ERCOT Calls for Conservation of Electricity Usage on Sunday
ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) has issued a call for people to conserve electricity usage on Sunday due to low wind and potential low solar generation alongside high demand. The agency warns that operating reserves for ERCOT are expected to be low in the afternoon and evening.
Specifically, ERCOT is urging residents to conserve electricity use from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. In a statement, the agency emphasized the importance of conservation efforts and highlighted that similar actions taken yesterday were successful in avoiding emergency conditions. ERCOT credited the conservation efforts by Texas residents and businesses, as well as improvements in wind power and additional grid reliability tools.
However, the agency cautions that there is a potential for emergency operations this evening due to the expected low wind and potential low solar generation coupled with high demand. ERCOT assures the public that they will closely monitor conditions throughout the day and keep the public informed through their communication channels.
To ensure conservation efforts extend beyond residential areas, ERCOT is also requesting that all government agencies, including city and county offices, implement programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
In their ongoing efforts to manage the grid reliably, ERCOT is employing various tools such as using reserve power, calling upon large electric customers who have volunteered to reduce their energy use, and accelerating the addition of more power generation. Additionally, ERCOT is collaborating with out-of-state Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Market Participants to secure additional power generation capacity.
ERCOT has outlined several reasons for its appeal for conservation in their official release. Firstly, the state is experiencing extreme heat with sustained high temperatures. Secondly, there is near-record demand for electricity driven by the heatwave. Additionally, wind generation is expected to be lower during peak demand time in the afternoon and evening, and solar generation is potentially lower in the afternoon and will cease entirely at sunset.
In terms of practical measures to lower energy use, ERCOT offers recommendations to residents and businesses. They suggest raising thermostats by a degree or two, if safe to do so, avoiding the use of large appliances like washing machines and dryers, and turning off and unplugging non-essential lights and appliances. Businesses are encouraged to turn off unneeded lights and office equipment and to power down air conditioning units outside of business hours.
As Texas continues to grapple with the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions, ERCOT and its partners are focused on ensuring grid reliability and meeting electricity demand. While conservation efforts are critical in the short term, the long-term need for investment and advancement in renewable energy sources and grid infrastructure becomes increasingly apparent.
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