
News Release
Grid condition improving but conservation still urged - 6:35 am
Winter record expected this morning; consumers asked to reduce energy consumption 6-9 am
Morning peak demand is projected to be more than 56,800 MW. Although immediate concerns for the possibility of rotating outages this morning are reduced, ERCOT will be monitoring the grid closely because additional unexpected major losses of generation could force operators to begin emergency procedures to avoid an uncontrolled statewide blackout.
The grid continues to have about 3,000 MW of generation out of service due to the effects of the extreme cold.
Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electrical service initiated by each utility when ERCOT’s reserve power supplies are exhausted. Utilities/ transmission providers determine the location/scheduling of the rotating outages.
Rotating outages are the last step in a progressive series of emergency procedures that ERCOT follows according to market rules. We only call for controlled rotating outages as a final fail-safe measure to avoid an uncontrolled blackout across the state.
Additional updates will be distributed to the News Bulletins list and posted on the ERCOT website when we have new information.
BACKGROUND
Conservation Tips
See "Powerful Advice," Public Utility Commission of Texas:
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/agency/conserve/Constips.aspx
ERCOT REGION
The ERCOT Region includes Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi, Abilene and the Rio Grande Valley. It does not include the El Paso area, the Texas Panhandle, Northeast Texas (Longview, Marshall and Texarkana), and Southeast Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and the Woodlands). Region map: http://www.ercot.com/news/mediakit/maps/index.html
HELPFUL CONTACTS
For Utility Information
Check your electric bill to identify your utility company or transmission provider.
Investor-Owned Utilities (Transmission & Distribution)
American Electric Power <http://www.aeptexas.com/> 877-373-4858
CenterPoint Energy <http://www.centerpointenergy.com> 800-752-8036
Oncor <http://www.oncorgroup.com/> 888-313-4747
Sharyland Utilities <http://www.su-power.com/> 956-668-9551
Texas-New Mexico Power <http://www.tnpe.com> 888-866-7456
Community-Owned Electric Utilities
Texas Public Power Association, http://www.tppa.com/
Utility Directories
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/industry/electric/directories/Default.aspx
ERCOT Market Participants
http://www.ercot.com/mktparticipants/index.html
The Public Utility Commission
http://puc.state.tx.us/
ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. Its members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities, transmission and distribution providers and municipally owned electric utilities.
512-275-7432
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