ERCOT calls again for energy conservation in Texas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

With high triple-digit temperatures expected and low winds and sunshine Thursday, severe conditions are expected again on the Texas power grid in the afternoon and evening, prompting a call for conservation from ERCOT.

“Due to continued high temperatures, high demand, low winds and reduced solar power generation this afternoon, operating reserves are expected to be low in the afternoon and evening hours,” ERCOT said in a statement late Thursday morning. ‘ERCOT is not in emergency operations, and no controlled power outages are needed at this time.’

ERCOT supply and demand dashboard It again showed a narrowing between supply and demand for the afternoon with demand exceeding supply after 7pm

ERCOT asked Texans to limit their energy use from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday.

NBC 5 meteorologist Kevan Smith talks about the Texas power grid, what’s stressing it, and the impact of weather on calls for energy conservation.

ERCOT issued a Level 2 Energy Emergency Alert Wednesday night due to low power reserves. It was the first time since 2021 that the agency issued a Level 2 alert due to dwindling reserves.

Texans heard the call and saved enough electricity to delay Wednesday’s “load dump,” or power outages.

ERCOT exited emergency operations and said the network returned to normal operations Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the weather watch issued earlier this week remains in effect until September 8.

ERCOT has several different types Power emergency alert levels or European Economic Areas. After normal network conditions, the levels are Save Alert Level, then EEA 1, 2, and 3.

Here’s what the alert levels mean:

• Save Alert: ERCOT said this is a voluntary request to reduce electricity use. While ERCOT said it is not in emergency operations, it is asking the public and “all government agencies to implement all programs to reduce energy use at its facilities.”
• Energy emergency level 1: Preservation is critical. We reach this stage when the operational reserve drops below 2,300 megawatts and is not expected to recover within 30 minutes.
• Emergency level 2: It is triggered when reserves are less than 1,750 MW and are not expected to be recovered within 30 minutes. At this point, ERCOT can reduce the demand on the system by cutting power to large industrial customers who have contractually agreed to cut power to them during an emergency.
• Emergency level 3: The final level is reached when reserves fall below 1430 megawatts. If operating reserves fall below 1,000 MW and are not expected to recover within 30 minutes and/or the grid frequency level cannot be maintained at 60 Hz, ERCOT will implement “controlled outages”, also known as blackouts renewed.

What can I do to help?

ERCOT is asking Texans to take simple energy conservation steps to reduce demand on the grid.

• Turn the thermostat up a notch or two, if it’s safe to do so.
• Avoid using large appliances such as washers and dryers.
• Turn off and unplug unnecessary lights and appliances.
• Set your pool pumps to run early in the morning or overnight instead of during peak hours.

Why the demand to reduce the use?

• heat. Temperatures continue to rise statewide.
• Requests. Texas is experiencing high demand due to the heat.
• Solar. Solar power generation begins to decline in the early afternoon hours towards the end of summer before the internet goes completely off at sunset.
• winds. Wind generation is expected to be low this evening during peak demand.

PUCT’s Power to Save website has tips for reducing electricity use in homes, businesses and more Energy saving tips are available at TXANS (ercot.com).

Extreme need

• ERCOT set a new unofficial peak demand record of 85,435 MW on August 10, 2023.
• ERCOT set a new all-time September peak demand record of 81,674 MW on September 5, 2023, surpassing the previous September peak demand of 78,459 MW recorded on September 4.
• This summer, ERCOT has announced 10 new products All-time peak demand records.
• Last summer, ERCOT 11 set a new record for peak demand with a peak of 80,148 MW on July 20.

consumer assistance

• Texas Public Utilities Commission Hotline: 1-888-782-8477

to stay informed

• Sign up for TXANS notifications at Texas
• Download the ERCOT Mobile App for additional notifications: internal control Department| android.
• Monitor real-time and extended conditions in ercot.com.
• participation in ERCOT Emergency Alerts Which are not sent through TXANS notifications.
• Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO), Facebook (Texas Electric Reliability Board), and LinkedIn (ERCOT).