DALLAS – ERCOT says it’s looking for every megawatt it can find. While the chance of rolling brownouts Friday evening is slim, this weekend will be another critical time for the electric grid.
Several power plants must come offline Saturday and Sunday for routine maintenance to make sure they can withstand another beating next week. Because of that, ERCOT will have less of an electric reserve than usual.
So, it has been asked that people continue to conserve electricity over the next 48 hours.
“I have never seen it in my career,” said Kent Saathoff, a spokesman with ERCOT, of the power problem. “It’s strictly due to the weather.”
ERCOT has been buying power from Mexico and other states all week. North Texas remains in an electric emergency until 7 p.m. ERCOT asks people to turn off appliances that are not necessary during this time.
Source: WFAA
Is a policy analyst consultant for TCAP, a coalition of political subdivisions in Texas that purchase electricity in the deregulated market for their own governmental use. Because energy costs are typically a significant budget item to our members, TCAP is consistently looking for ways to save our members money, through cost-saving contracts, energy efficiency or demand response programs.