(AUSTIN) - With extreme hot weather driving record power demand across Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is issuing a Conservation Appeal, asking Texans and Texas businesses to voluntarily conserve electricity, Monday, July 11 between 2-8 p.m. ERCOT also issued a watch for a projected reserve capacity shortage from 2-8 p.m. At this time, no system-wide outages are expected, according to ERCOT.
ERCOT encourages all electric customers to visit the Public Utility Commission’s Power to Save or their electric provider’s websites to get important conservation tips. According to the PUC, ways to reduce electricity use during peak times include turning up your thermostat a degree or two, if comfortable, and postponing running major appliances or pool pumps during afternoon peak hours.
ERCOT continues to use all tools available to manage the grid effectively and reliably, including using reserve power and calling upon large electric customers who have volunteered to lower their energy use.
ERCOT emphasizes that the call for conservation is limited to the hours of 2-8 p.m.
According to ERCOT, factors driving the need for this action by customers include:
Record high electric demand. The heat wave that has settled on Texas and much of the central United States is driving increased electric use.
Low wind. While solar power is generally reaching near full generation capacity, wind generation is currently generating significantly less than what it historically generated in this time period. Current projections show wind generation coming in less than 10 percent of its capacity.
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