ERCOT in level 1 emergency; Consumers asked to conserve 3-7 p.m. today

Update: ERCOT in level 1 emergency; Consumers asked to conserve 3-7 p.m. today

Austin, Aug. 24, 2011, 2:19 p.m.  -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT), system operator for the state’s bulk transmission grid, initiated Energy Emergency Alert Level 1 at 2:19 p.m. today due to responsive reserves below 2,300 megawatts (MW).  Capacity is expected to be very tight over the peak today, and ERCOT operators are closely monitoring the situation. 

Extreme heat expected to create tight capacity, high demand across state

Austin, Aug. 24, 2011, 2:19 p.m. – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT), system operator for the state’s bulk transmission grid, is asking consumers and businesses to reduce their electricity use during peak electricity hours from 3 to 7 p.m. today and the rest of the week and weekend.

"The ERCOT region is continuing to experience record-high temperatures throughout the state which is causing high electricity usage," said Kent Saathoff, vice president of system planning and operations.   "We have lost some additional generation, as well, so there is a good chance we will need to implement the first stage of our emergency procedures today."

Peak electricity demand is forecast to be more than 67,000 MW today.  The current all-time peak demand record is 68,294 MW, which occurred on Aug. 3, 2011.  Prior to this year, the record was 65,776 MW, Aug. 23, 2010.  One megawatt powers about 200 average homes in Texas during summer conditions.

"We’re expecting more high temperatures Thursday and through the weekend, so we may have more emergency procedures later in the week and weekend," Saathoff said.  "Until we get a break in this extreme heat and record drought, we appreciate consumers and businesses conserving electricity as they are able, especially between 3 and 7 p.m. 

Conservation Tips

Consumers can help by shutting off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances between 3 and 7 p.m., and delaying laundry and other activities requiring electricity-consuming appliances until later in the evening. Other conservation tips from the Public Utility Commission’s "Powerful Advice"  include:

• Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
• When at home, close blinds and drapes that get direct sun, set air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, and use fans in occupied rooms to feel cooler.
• When away from home, set air conditioning thermostats to 85 degrees and turn all fans off before you leave. Block the sun by closing blinds or drapes on windows that will get direct sun.
• Do not use your dishwasher, laundry equipment, hair dryers, coffee makers, or other home appliances during the peak hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
• Avoid opening refrigerators or freezers more than necessary.
• Use microwaves for cooking instead of an electric range or oven.
• Set your pool pump to run in the early morning or evening instead of the afternoon.

Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.   Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

ERCOT CEO: Thank you for conserving electricity

Procedures Background

The Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) procedures are a progressive series of steps that allow ERCOT to bring on power from other grids if available, beginning with a Power Watch (Energy Emergency Alert Level 1). 

If the situation does not improve, ERCOT escalates to a Power Warning (Energy Emergency Alert Level 2), allowing operators to drop large commercial/industrial load resources under contract to be interrupted during an emergency. 

If the capacity shortage is not relieved by the contract demand response, ERCOT escalates to a Power Emergency (Energy Emergency Alert Level 3) and will instruct utilities to reduce demand on the grid by conducting temporary outages at the local distribution level.  These controlled temporary interruptions of electrical service – or rotating outages – typically last 15-45 minutes before being rotated to a different neighborhood.  

Consumers should contact the utility company/ transmission provider listed on their electric bill for information about power outages at their homes or business, or about rotating outage procedures for their area. 

Energy Emergency Alert Communications

How to Track Electricity Demand

• View daily peak demand forecast and current load at  http://www.ercot.com/
• View daily peak demands by the hour at this link
• Get real-time notices of energy emergency alerts by following ERCOT on Twitter

Consumer Assistance

• Public Utility Commission Consumer Hotline – 1-888-782-8777
• Office of Public Utility Counsel Consumer Assistance – 1-877-839-0363 

Call Your Electric Utility for Information about Local Outages

ERCOT manages the state’s high-voltage bulk electricity grid.  For questions about local outages at your home or business, or questions about rotating outage procedures for your neighborhood, contact the utility company or transmission provider listed on your electric bill.

AEP Texas
Bandera Electric Cooperative
Austin Energy
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative 
Brazos Electric Power Cooperative
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Bryan Texas Utilities
CenterPoint Energy
College Station Utilities
CPS Energy – San Antonio
Denton Municipal Electric
Garland Power & Light
Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative
LCRA
Magic Valley Electric Cooperative
Nueces Electric Cooperative 
Oncor
Pedernales Electric Cooperative
Rayburn County Electric Cooperative
Sharyland Utilities
South Texas Electric Cooperative
Texas-New Mexico Power 

2011 ENERGY EMERGENCY ALERTS

Feb. 2               EEA 1-3

March 23           EEA 1

June 27             EEA 1

Aug. 2               EEA 1

Aug. 3               EEA 1

Aug. 4               EEA 1-2

Aug. 23             EEA 1 

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