TX POWER GRID STRAIN- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas known as ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to more than 25 million Texas customers -- representing about 90 percent of the state’s electric load. The high temperatures lately have electricity consumption at an all-time high and ERCOT is asking consumers and businesses to reduce their energy usage today and tomorrow. Electricity is expected to be in short supply because temperatures are likely to exceed 100 degrees in all of the state's major metropolitan areas through Saturday. Leslie Sopko is a spokesperson for ERCOT. She says more and more demand is being put on the state’s electric grid due to a number of factors.
"Folks continue to move to the state of Texas, there’s a thriving economy," Sopkoe explained. "And there’s significant oil and gas development, so it’s not surprising that demand continues to increase.”
The combination of growing demand and high temperatures puts a strain on the electric grid. Sopkoe says power consumers can take simple steps to reduce electricity use, especially between the peak hours of 2 and 7 PM. Raising thermostat settings just a few degrees and using fans to recirculate air can help along with turning off lights when not in use can help reduce electricity use and save money. Texas power consumers set a new September record for peak demand this past Tuesday.
