The Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued a statewide conservation advisory Monday amid record-breaking heat.
The call for Texans to voluntarily conserve their electric use comes as scorching temperatures sweep the state and electricity demands have increased. As of Monday, Austin’s heat index is forecast to be 111 degrees, with predictions of 109 degrees in Houston and 105 degrees in Dallas.
ERCOT issued a call for conservation from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, the same time period that a “predicted reserve capacity shortage watch” has been issued. according to a press release.
At this time, no system-wide outages are expected, and ERCOT has not reported any permanent outages, ERCOT told ABC News.
Juanita Alarcon holds her dog, Chloe, near a ventilator recently donated to help cope with the heat, in San Antonio, Texas, on July 11, 2022.
Lisa Krantz/Reuters
“We are not in an emergency situation. Our control room has run a watch and we are requesting a voluntary reduction of power whenever possible,” ERCOT said.
ERCOT has an outage plan, the organization told ABC News, but doesn’t anticipate needing it Monday.
Monday’s appeal comes on the back of record electricity demand and a wind shutdown, ERCOT said in the statement, as wind generation is shown to be at less than 10 percent of capacity.
ERCOT suggests residents and business owners raise their thermostats by one to two degrees and delay running major appliances or pool pumps to conserve them during peak hours.
Other energy-saving tips include moving a fan in the bathroom while you shower to remove heat and humidity through spot ventilation, and moving lights or televisions away from air conditioners or thermostats.
ERCOT said it continues to use all its resources to maintain power during the heat, including calling on large electric customers who have offered to reduce their energy use. The aggregated forecasts of the organization envisage an improvement in generation compared to demand from Tuesday.
Power demand in Texas hit a record in June, and ERCOT told ABC News at the time that its supply was steady and would not require a call for conservation. Now in July, ERCOT has issued the request as power demand is expected to top June’s record by 5,000 megawatts.
Power lines are seen during a heat wave with temperatures expected to reach 102 F (39 C) in Dallas, Texas on June 12, 2022.
Shelby Tauber/Reuters, FILE
Austin falls under an excessive heat advisory according to the National Meteorological Servicewith additional heat advisories spread across the state.
In the midst of these temperatures, it’s important to monitor for signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and fainting are common symptoms of these heat-induced illnesses.
For more information on how to stay safe in the heat, click here. For tips on how to save energy, click here.
