The governing body that manages the state’s power grid is appealing to Texans to save energy Tuesday afternoon and evening as demand approaches the available supply.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas tweeted on Tuesday at 4:42 p.m., asking consumers and businesses to reduce their power consumption until the evening.
High temperatures in most of North Texas were in the upper 70s and low 80s Tuesday afternoon.
“Because of a combination of high-generation disruptions that typically occur in April and higher-than-expected demand from a cold front across Texas, ERCOT could face emergencies this afternoon,” said Woody Rickerson, vice president of ERCOT. statement. ‘Given the event in February, it’s important to note that we do not expect customer disruption. On the contrary, this emergency declaration enables us to access instruments that will bring supply and demand back in line. ”
ERCOT has proposed the following steps to save energy.
- Turn off unnecessary lights and equipment.
- Turn the thermostat up 2 to 3 degrees.
- Set programmable thermostats to higher temperatures when no one is home.
- Use fans to feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler.
- Limit the use of large appliances (eg dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, etc.).
- If you cook indoors, use a microwave or slow cooker.
- Close blinds and curtains in the late afternoon.
- Plan pool pumps to work early in the morning or overnight.
This is an evolving story, check back for updates.