Texans Asked To Conserve Energy As State Hits Triple Digits

AUSTIN, TX — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has issued a conservation alert Monday as temperatures soar into the triple digits throughout the state.

ERCOT issued the alert at 12:39 p.m. Monday asking Texans to reduce their electricity use because electric demand is predicted to outpace supply Monday afternoon.

Under the conservation alert, ERCOT is asking residential consumers to set thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, close drapes and blinds, turn off and unplug nonessential devices and to avoid using larger appliances like ovens or washing machines.

Businesses are also being asked to minimize their lighting and use of electric equipment, and large consumers should shut down or reduce non-essential production, according to ERCOT.

Temperatures are expected to reach the triple digits across the Lone Star State on Monday.

On Sunday, Austin reached 99 degrees, which made it the warmest day since October 11, 2020, according to the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio.

ERCOT added that every degree of cooling Texans use increases their energy use by 6 to 8 percent.

Those with critical medical needs should get in touch with their local electricity provider in case controlled outages are needed later, ERCOT officials said.

While there was enough supply to meet demand Monday morning, ERCOT's daily outlook showed that by about 2 p.m., demand would outmatch supply. The conservation request would last through June 18.

When demand is higher than electric supply, ERCOT will begin its emergency operations to protect the grid from an uncontrolled outage.

The council's emergency operations has three different levels and begins when reserves drop below 2,300 megawatts and aren't expected to recover within 30 minutes. Level 2 begins when those reserves go below 1,750 MW and Level 3 starts when that number hits 1,375.

If reserves drop below 1,000 MW and aren't expected to go back up in the next 30 minutes, ERCOT then institutes controlled outages as a last resort, much like what Texans experienced in February and years prior.

A megawatt is enough energy to power about 200 Texas homes during peak demand, according to ERCOT.