Texas Electric Grid Management Warns High Electric Usage Across The State, Need For Conservation

Corridor Staff

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) canceled its Energy Emergency Alert (EEA1) at 5 p.m. yesterday and returned to normal grid operations by 5:30 p.m.

ERCOT manages scheduling on an electric grid carrying 90 percent of Texas’ load. ERCOT is reminding all Texans that during this time of extreme heat, Texans need to conserve their electric use as it is putting major demands on the states electric supply.

However, “Extreme heat across the state resulted in high usage yesterday,” said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness. “Declaring an EEA1 allowed us to access tools to maintain reliability, and we appreciate everyone’s response to the conservation appeal.”

At 3:10 p.m. yesterday, ERCOT issued an EEA1 due to operating reserves below 2,300 MW. During normal grid conditions, ERCOT’s operating reserves are at or above 3,000 MW. This is the first time ERCOT has issued an EEA1 since January 2014.

One megawatt (MW) is enough to power 200 homes on a hot summer day.

When ERCOT issues an EEA, it is then able to take advantage of additional resources that are only available during tight operating conditions.

Yesterday afternoon, the average real-time market energy price reached the $9,000/MWh offer cap for multiple 15-minute settlement intervals.

ERCOT set a new all-time peak demand record on Monday, Aug. 12, when demand reached 74,531 MW between 4 and 5 p.m. Yesterday’s peak came in at 74,181 MW between 3 and 4 p.m.

Consumers can monitor real-time grid conditions by downloading the ERCOT mobile app in the Apple Store and Google Play and/or by following ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO).

ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, manages the flow of electric power to more than 25 million Texas customers, representing about 90 percent of the state’s electric load. As the Independent System Operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 46,500 miles of transmission lines and 650+ generation units.

ERCOT governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature.