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 in CoServ's service territory.
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.
Comments
0 comments
Article is closed for comments.