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ERCOT Calls On Texas To Conserve Power Amid High Summer Demand, Forced Outages

Power lines in South Austin during February's winter storm. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is asking people to conserve power as much as possible amid high demand for electricity and several forced outages.
Power lines in South Austin during February's winter storm. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is asking people to conserve power as much as possible amid high demand for electricity and several forced outages.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state's power grid, is asking people to conserve power as much as possible this week as demand for electricity might exceed supply amid record electricity usage and forced outages.

Texans should reduce their electricity use through Friday, ERCOT said.

ERCOT said several power generators in the state are on forced outages for repairs, putting about 11,000 megawatts — about the amount of energy it takes to power 2.2 million homes on a summer day — out of commission.

“We will be conducting a thorough analysis with generation owners to determine why so many units are out of service,” said ERCOT's Vice President of Grid Planning and Operations Woody Rickerson. “This is unusual for this early in the summer season.”

Generator owners have told ERCOT the number of outages should reduce by the end of the week.

Demand for electricity is also near record levels. ERCOT forecasts that demand on Monday will exceed 73,000 megawatts. The daily record for June is 69,123 megawatts, which was set on June 27, 2018.

ERCOT’s call to reduce electricity usage comes four months after severe winter weather battered the state’s power grid, leaving thousands without power for days. The agency came under fire for failing to adequately prepare for the freeze.

ERCOT offers these tips to help conserve power:

  • Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher.
  • Turn off lights and pool pumps.
  • Avoid using large appliances like ovens, washing machines and dryers
  • Turn off and unplug any device not currently in use.

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Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera