AUSTIN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, issued a warning shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, warning of possible “emergencies,” but did not expect power outages.
ERCOT said on Twitter: ‘Due to a combination of high gene disruptions that are typical in April and higher demand than predicted by a cold front across TX, ERCOT could enter emergencies. We do not expect customers to be interrupted. By declaring an emergency, we will have access to additional resources. ”
Warning: Due to a combination of high interruptions that usually occur in April and higher demand than predicted by a cold front in TX, ERCOT can enter emergencies. We do not expect customers to be interrupted. If we declare an emergency, we can access additional resources.
– ERCOT (@ERCOT_ISO) 13 April 2021
In February, major power outages left millions of Texans without electricity, heat and running water during two winter storms that brought single-digit temperatures.
ERCOT says it manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers, representing 90% of the state’s electric charge.
Woody Rickerson, ERCOT’s Vice President for Network Planning and Operations, said ERCOT expected a cool front that was stuck across Central Texas to continue its progress in the state, thus lowering the temperature. .
The fact that the front was stuck led to a greater demand than expected, he said, adding that demand decreased as the afternoon sun disappeared, but that it would be possible again in the next three to four weeks to to make the conservation applications.
However, 32,000 megawatts of generating capacity was taken offline, accounting for about 25% of system-wide capacity, Rickerson said.
The damage caused by the deadly cold wave has also been repaired, he said.
“These interruptions are maintenance interruptions that plants have taken to prepare for the summer operations,” Rickerson said at a telephone news conference. “This is usually the time of year when we allow a lot of maintenance interruptions for units getting ready for summer when there is not enough bandwidth to make interruptions.”
Rickerson cites the decision as to whether generators are allowed to shut down for seasonal maintenance, as a ‘balancing act’ with narrow margins for supply-demand errors. As ERCOT is an independent network within the Texas borders, it is not subject to federal regulations. It also means the ERCOT network has no access to the spot market for electricity from other U.S. energy networks, Rickerson said.
Minutes after the first tweet Tuesday, ERCOT called on Texans to save the evening energy.
ERCOT is currently seeking energy savings. Consumers and businesses are urged to reduce their electricity consumption from noon to evening.
– ERCOT (@ERCOT_ISO) 13 April 2021
Clients can help by taking the following ERCOT conservation steps:
· Switch 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 during the late afternoon.
· Plan pool pumps to run early in the morning or overnight.
ERCOT tweeted on Tuesday at 20:40: ‘Our call for energy saving has ended without the emergency for energy. Thank you for saving energy when needed. ”
Our call for energy conservation has ended without the need for emergencies. Thank you for saving energy when needed.
– ERCOT (@ERCOT_ISO) 14 April 2021