ERCOT predicts up to 16% chance of emergency power conditions in August - KXAN

[TexasTowelie]

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — As Texans start to experience the beginning of another hot summer, the state’s power grid operators are raising concerns about the heat, grid reliability and the prospect of rolling blackouts.

In a Texas House State Affairs Committee hearing Monday, energy leaders testified to give updates about growth forecasts, the summer outlook and market design initiatives.

It comes after a Friday report in which the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said that by August, energy demand in Texas could reach as high as 78,000 megawatts. The state has a projected supply of 83,000 megawatts for August, which is typically the hottest month of the year.

ERCOT says the Texas grid is expected to keep up with the expected increased demand for power this summer, but it could get close. Following the second-hottest summer on record in Texas last year, the upcoming months are also expected to be a scorcher. In 2023, ERCOT repeatedly asked customers to voluntarily conserve their electricity as operators aimed to keep demand from exceeding supply.

Read more: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-predicts-up-to-16-chance-of-emergency-power-conditions-in-august/

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. I am glad that I have a generator

[czarjak]

2. Greg's Grid's gonna grind to a halt?

[modrepub]

3. Won't Matter

Government (political) offices will still have their air conditioning. I'd also bet that most industry will not have their power cut. Roving brown or black outs will be reserved for residential areas (most probably low income ones).

[SARose]

4. Brownout happened to me last summer

Hello there from San Antonio suburbia!👋 Yeppers rolling brown outs, no dishwasher, washing machine or dryer during “peak use.” But the best advice was to turn AC up to 78 degrees. Hello we no longer have homes with attic fans or large windows to permit adequate air flow. We all suffered irregardless of economic status.

Meanwhile

Texan Bitcoin miners profit by using less electricity; advocates say all Texans should get the same chance

One company made $32 million dollars last August for reducing its electricity usage. The rest of us sweated our butts off with no compensation.

[modrepub]

6. Industry Always Does Well

Back in the 90s I worked for a NE state. Asked about a new gas-fired power plant. Was told by a colleague it wasn’t running. Gas prices were so high the plant sold its gas contract, bought electricity on the spot market to cover itself and pocketed a nice profit (for not running).

Yea, markets are wacky like that.

[czarjak]

5. Real conspiracy?