What is TXANS?
ERCOT's notification and emergency alert system
ahead of periods of high demand.
TXANS Notifications
Weather Watch
A Weather Watch may be issued when there is forecasted significant weather, high demand, and a potential for lower reserves. Grid conditions are normal during a Weather Watch.
Action:
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- View energy-saving tips
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Voluntary Conservation Notice
A Voluntary Conservation Notice is issued when higher demand is forecasted with lower energy reserves.
Action:
- ERCOT requests the public to voluntarily conserve power, if safe to do so.
- ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Conservation Appeal
ERCOT will issue a Conservation Appeal when higher demand is forecasted with a potential to enter emergency operations.
Action:
- ERCOT requests the public to conserve power during a specific period, if safe to do so.
- ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1
An EEA 1 occurs when operating reserves drop below 2,500 megawatts (MW) and are not expected to recover within 30 minutes. ERCOT has not directed systemwide controlled outages.
Action:
- ERCOT requests the public to conserve power, if safe to do so.
- ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
- If you have critical medical needs, check with your local electric utility.
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2
An EEA 2 occurs when operating reserves drop below 2,000 MW and are not expected to recover within 30 minutes, or frequency drops below 59.91 hertz (Hz) for 15 minutes. ERCOT has not directed systemwide controlled outages.
Action:
- Conservation is critical; ERCOT requests the public to reduce electricity use as much as possible.
- ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
- If you have critical medical needs, check with your local electric utility.
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3
An EEA 3 occurs when operating reserves drop below 1,500 MW, or the grid's frequency level drops below 59.8 Hz for any period of time. Systemwide controlled outages are underway.
Action:
- To protect the grid, ERCOT has directed utilities across the ERCOT Region to quickly reduce demand, which is done through systemwide controlled outages at the local level. Be prepared to lose power during these outages.
- ERCOT requests the public to conserve electricity during times when they have power.
- If you have critical medical needs, check with your local electric utility.
- ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
- Monitor ERCOT grid conditions
- Follow ERCOT on social media.
Energy-Saving Tips
Tips to help reduce energy usage, if safe to do so, during periods of high demand.
During the summer - Raise your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so. During the winter - Lower your thermostat by a degree or two, if safe to do so.
Avoid using large appliances (i.e., washer/dryer etc.).
Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances.
Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours.
Commercial Business: Turn off any lights and office equipment (or place in sleep mode) when space not in use.
Commercial Business: Turn off air-conditioning/heating outside of business hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
TXANS is a tool ERCOT uses to provide greater transparency on grid operations, to raise awareness earlier of potential periods of higher demand and tighter grid conditions and to alert the public if ERCOT enters emergency operations.
TXANS keeps the public informed as grid conditions change - from early weather notifications when ERCOT may need to request energy conservation to emergency operations. TXANS provides the public with information and actions they can take to help support grid reliability.
- Weather Watch - Grid conditions are normal, but there is forecasted significant weather, higher demand, and a potential for lower reserves.
- Voluntary Conservation Notice - Higher demand is forecasted with lower energy supply. ERCOT requests the public to voluntarily conserve power during a specific period, if safe to do so. ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities
- Conservation Appeal - Higher demand is forecasted with a potential to enter emergency operations. ERCOT requests the public to conserve power during a specific period, if safe to do so. ERCOT requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities
- Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1 - This is the first level of emergency operations. Conservation is requested.
- Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2 - This is the second level of emergency operations. Conservation is now critical.
- Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 3 - This is the third level of emergency operations, where controlled outages occur. To protect the grid, ERCOT has directed transmission operators across the ERCOT Region to quickly reduce demand, which is done through controlled outages at the local level. The public may experience power interruptions. If you have power, conservation is critical.
ERCOT continuously monitors supply and demand across the grid, which can be affected by weather conditions. ERCOT may issue a Weather Watch when significant weather and higher electricity demand is forecasted. Grid conditions are expected to remain normal during a Weather Watch; however, this is an early notification of possible higher demand.
Grid conditions are normal when a Weather Watch is issued. A Weather Watch is a look ahead at forecasted conditions where potential demand on the grid could be higher, but supply is expected to remain sufficient.
A Voluntary Conservation Notice is a request for the public to voluntarily reduce energy usage during peak demand periods, if safe to do so. If you have critical medical needs, contact your local electric utility. ERCOT also requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities. Conservation is a widely used tool throughout the industry to support grid reliability. Learn more about energy-saving tips.
A Conservation Appeal is an elevated request for the public to reduce energy use during peak demand periods where there is a potential to enter emergency operations due to lower reserves. If you have critical medical needs, contact your local electric utility. ERCOT also requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities. Conserving electricity use, if safe to do so, can support grid reliability. Learn more about energy-saving tips.
EEA Level 1 is the first level of emergency operations and is issued to maintain grid reliability. Operating reserves have dropped below 2,500 megawatts and are expected to remain below that level for at least 30 minutes.
ERCOT has not directed controlled outages but is requesting conservation, if safe to do so. If you have critical medical needs, contact your local electric utility. Learn more about energy-saving tips. ERCOT also requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities.
If you are experiencing an outage during an EEA 1, it is likely local in nature. Please check with your local electric provider for more information.
Learn more about EEA 1.
EEA Level 2 is the second level of emergency operations. Reserves are below 2,000 megawatts and are expected to remain below that level for 30 minutes, or grid frequency has dropped below 59.91 hertz for 15 minutes.
ERCOT has not directed systemwide controlled outages in EEA 2. Energy conservation is critical, if safe to do so. If you have critical medical needs, contact your local electric utility. ERCOT also requests all government agencies (including city and county offices) to implement all programs to reduce energy use at their facilities. Learn more about energy-saving tips.
If you are experiencing an outage during an EEA 2, it is likely local in nature. Please check with your local electric provider for more information.
Learn more about EEA 2.
EEA Level 3 is the third and most critical level of emergency operations. Reserves are below 1,500 megawatts or the grid frequency has dropped below 59.8 hertz.
During EEA 3, ERCOT directs transmission operators across the ERCOT region to quickly reduce demand on the grid, which is done through controlled outages at the local level. These outages impact all customer classes, including residential, commercial, and industrial. If you have critical medical needs, contact your local electric utility. The use of controlled outages is one of the last remaining steps in a series needed to maintain overall grid stability.
Conservation is critical. Please conserve electricity when you do have power during the controlled outages. Learn more about energy-saving tips.
Learn more about EEA 3.