ERCOT warning today: Operator asks Texans to voluntarily conserve energy and issues Weather Watch through Friday - KTRK-TV
ERCOT warning today: Operator asks Texans to voluntarily conserve energy and issues Weather Watch through Friday - ABC13 Houston
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, has issued its own request that Texans conserve energy, though it's voluntary.
ERCOT, the operator of the state's electric grid, issued a voluntary notice for 3-8 p.m. on Thursday "due to extreme temperatures, forecasted high demand, and lower reserves due to low wind generation," it said on social media.
"Texans are asked to voluntarily reduce electric use, if safe to do so," the message added.
ERCOT said that's it not in emergency operations, but the request does ask for all government agencies, including city and county offices, to implement any programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
You can check conditions on the dashboard here.
Under voluntary conservation, you can try the following tips.
- Raise your thermostat by a degree or two, if it's safe to do so
- Avoid using large appliances such as a washer or dryer
- Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances
- Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight. Shut them off during peak hours
- For commercial businesses, turn off any lights and office equipment, or use sleep mode, when not in use. Also turn off air-conditioning outside of business hours
- Use ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate the cool air
- Close blinds and/or curtains on windows that receive direct sunlight
- Shade A/C units or condensers located outdoors, if possible
Roughly two weeks ago, Reliant Energy asked Texans to conserve after days of triple-digit temperatures. So far, ERCOT had only issued what it called Weather Watches.
A Weather Watch is supposed to provide the public with early notification, and at least three to five days in advance, when higher demand is forecasted. A message from ERCOT's Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) says a Weather Watch is in place through Friday, Aug. 18.
ABC13 reported in May that the Public Utility Commission said the odds of the grid failing this summer are low, but it's possible it can happen.
The video above is from a previous report.
Related Knowledge Center: Liquefied natural gas
Driven by plentiful natural gas produced from shale plays, the United States began exporting liquefied natural gas in 2016 when the Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana opened and shipped its first cargo. Since then, additional capacity, or trains, have been added to Sabine Pass, and terminals have become operational in Cameron Parish, La.; Hackberry, La.; Cove Point, Md.; and Corpus Christi, Texas. The Energy Information Administration projects that U.S. LNG export capacity will reach 8.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by the end of 2019, making it the third largest in the world, behind Australia and Qatar. The tariff war with China has the potential to impact some final investment decisions for additional terminals in the coming months.