ERCOT is asking Texas and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity on Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m. ERCOT urges residents to conserve energy when they can by turning up thermostats a degree or two if convenient and putting off running large appliances or pool pumps during peak evening hours. ERCOT says the factors driving the need to conserve energy are due to record high electricity demand. According to a statement, the heat wave that has settled in Texas and much of the central United States is causing increased electricity use. ERCOT says low wind is also a factor, and while solar is generally reaching near full production capacity, wind generation today is producing significantly less than it has historically produced over this time period. Current forecasts show wind generation coming in at less than 10 percent of capacity. ERCOT’s full statement can be read below. AUSTIN, TX, July 10, 2022 – With extreme temperatures driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a conservation appeal, asking Texas and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity , on Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m. ERCOT also issued a Watch for a predicted shortage of reserve capacity from 2-8 p.m. No system-wide outages are expected at this time. Conservation is a reliability tool that ERCOT has deployed more than four dozen times since 2008 to successfully manage grid operations. This alert is issued when projected reserves may fall below 2300 MW for 30 minutes or more. ERCOT encourages all electric customers to visit the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Power to Save or electric provider websites for important energy conservation tips. According to the PUC, ways to reduce electricity use during peak hours include turning up your thermostat a degree or two if convenient, and putting off running large appliances or pool pumps during peak evening hours. ERCOT continues to use all available tools to manage the grid efficiently and reliably, including using backup power and calling on large electric customers who have volunteered to reduce energy use. ERCOT emphasizes that the conservation solicitation is limited to the hours of 2-8 p.m Factors driving the need for this important action from customers:
Record high electricity demand. The heat wave that has settled in Texas and much of the central United States is causing increased electricity use. Other grid operators are running similarly conservative operating schedules as ERCOT because of the heat. Low wind. While solar power is generally reaching near full production capacity, wind generation today is producing significantly less than it has historically produced over this time period. Current forecasts show wind generation coming in at less than 10 percent of capacity.
The total projected demand is 79,671 MW. How to monitor electricity demand · View daily peak demand forecast, current load and available generation at http://www.ercot.com. · Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and Facebook (Electric Reliability Council of Texas). · Sign up for the ERCOT mobile app (available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play). · Subscribe to the EmergencyAlerts list at http://lists.ercot.com. Consumer Help Texas Public Service Commission Hotline – 1-888-782-8477 Copyright 2022 KBTX. All rights reserved.
