The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is a nonprofit corporation authorized by the Texas Legislature to manage the reliable supply of electric power to 24 million Texans, including residents and businesses. The ERCOT region encompasses about 75 percent of the land area in Texas, including the urban load centers of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin, as well as most of West Texas, portions of the Panhandle and the Rio Grande Valley.
Before every summer and winter, ERCOT forecasts potential electricity demand and capacity. ERCOT currently expects to have sufficient generation to meet peak customer demand. If this changes, however, and it appears that demand will exceed supply, ERCOT will initiate its Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) system. Alerts range from calls for conservation to a declaration of a statewide power emergency that could result in controlled outages—controlled, planned service interruptions designed to ensure grid stability.
Here is a summary of ERCOT’s EEA system:
ERCOT grid conditions are normal.
Conservation Alert: ERCOT may ask consumers to conserve power by adjusting their thermostats and limiting the use of appliances.
Energy Emergency Level 1: Conservation is needed. ERCOT operators have the authority to call on all available power supplies, including power from other grids, if available.
Energy Emergency Level 2: Conservation is critical. Operators drop large commercial/industrial load resources that have entered contracts agreeing to be interrupted during an emergency.
Energy Emergency Level 3: Controlled Outages in Progress. ERCOT requires controlled outages to reduce demand and ensure the state electric grid’s stability. These controlled outages typically last 30 to 60 minutes per rotation.
We work closely with state and local officials to prepare for the demand a growing economy brings. To learn more about the Electric Reliability Council of Texas visit ERCOT.com. For links to download the ERCOT app, which provides real-time grid conditions, click here.
BONUS
Make sure that you are not being overcharged on your electric or natural gas. TruPowur offers competitive plans so you can start saving. If you need assistance, we are more than happy to have one of our Energy Advisors assist you. Contact Us for more information and when the best time to renew your residential or commercial contract, using our state-of-the-art analytics. Or visit www.TruPowur.com.