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Summer 2024

Resources and Updates

Overview

During the summer months (June, July, August, and September), peak demand on the grid is typically reached mid-to-late afternoon, with the tightest operating reserves expected during the evening hours as solar generation ramps down.

Based on normal weather conditions, ERCOT anticipates there will be sufficient generation to meet customer demand this summer.

ERCOT will continue to deploy all available tools to manage the grid reliably and coordinate closely with the Public Utility Commission, generation resource owners, and transmission utilities to ensure they are also prepared for summer. 

In the event of an energy emergency, ERCOT will provide regular updates to this page.

Grid Conditions
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Operating Reserves:
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Resources

Energy conservation is a widely used industry tool that can help an electric grid by lowering demand for a specific period of time, which is typically late afternoon into evening in the summer, and often morning and evening in winter. Conservation helps grid operators keep their electric system balanced and running reliably. ERCOT only asks for conservation when it is needed to bolster system reliability.

ERCOT’s conservation requests ask Texas businesses and residents to take small actions to reduce their electricity use for a specific period of peak demand time, if safe to do so. These actions include turning off unnecessary lights, adjusting air conditioning/heat by a degree or two, and postponing the use of large appliances, such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers, to reduce the amount of electricity being consumed.

Conservation does not automatically mean there will be an energy emergency, rather that ERCOT is entering a period of high demand with the potential for lower operating reserves. Grid operators, such as ERCOT, keep additional supply, or operating reserves, available to respond in a short time frame when needed.

During a call for conservation, ERCOT is also using additional tools to manage the grid reliably, including using reserve power, calling upon reductions by large electric customers that have volunteered to lower their energy use, and bringing more generation online sooner.

Energy-saving tips are available on ERCOT's Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) webpage. Texans should never put their health or safety at risk during a request for energy conservation and should only reduce electrical use if it’s safe to do so.

If the cushion between available electric generation supply and customer use gets too small, ERCOT may seek conservation to help increase its operating reserves. ERCOT may issue a Voluntary Conservation Notice or Conservation Appeal asking Texas businesses and residents within the ERCOT region to help reduce demand. Check with your local retail electric provider if you aren’t sure if you are part of the ERCOT grid.

Typically, tight grid conditions can be caused by a variety of factors, including high electric use combined with low renewable output (wind and solar) and/or high generation outages. Unexpected changes in the forecast for energy use or weather can also create the need for energy conservation.

A Voluntary Conservation Notice is a call for Texans to voluntarily reduce energy usage during peak demand periods, if safe to do so. Conservation is a common tool used throughout the industry to support grid reliability. As ERCOT continues to monitor conditions, forecasts may determine the need for ERCOT to issue a Voluntary Conservation Notice.

A Conservation Appeal is an elevated request for Texans to reduce their energy use during peak demand periods when there is a potential to enter emergency operations due to lower reserves. Help from Texans to conserve electricity use, if safe to do so, will assist grid reliability.

Conservation does help grid operators worldwide. ERCOT has seen time and time again that small actions to conserve electricity make a big difference. The amount of energy saved depends on the type of situation. In the last two years, voluntary conservation by Texans has reduced energy use by approximately 500 MW each time. Since ERCOT doesn’t have meters on the businesses and residents, it can be hard to calculate the exact number of megawatts reduced, but the impact is evident on the demand curve when conservation actions are taken.

The length of conservation depends on the forecasted grid conditions, which include demand, weather, generation output, and generation outages. In the past, they have ranged from hours on a single day to multiple days.

Recent calls for conservation have lasted for a few hours during peak demand time (i.e., August 20 from 7 to 10 p.m. and August 27 from 4 – 9 p.m.).

In some cases, localized conservation may be needed to balance supply and customer demand. In 2016, a localized request for conservation occurred in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV).

It’s an effective way to increase the operational reserve margin between available electric supply and customer use.

ERCOT works in coordination with the Public Utility Commission and state leadership to issue a Voluntary Conservation Notice or a Conservation Appeal. External communication channels include news releases, social media, ERCOT’s Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS), ERCOT.com, and the ERCOT mobile app. ERCOT also communicates directly with Market Participants and encourages them to amplify its messages.

If you’ve lost power to your home or business, contact your local electric provider. Consult this list of providers, outage maps and contact info.

 

See ERCOT’s dashboards for grid conditions, weather forecasts and more.

Go to Email List Manager to select a list to subscribe to. Sign up to receive:

See the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) website for individual and family resources as well as local official and emergency management resources. Follow TDEM on Twitter for the latest updates.

Background

ERCOT’s Use of Energy Conservation
Jan 16, 2024 - pdf - 235.1 KB
ERCOT Grid Condition Levels
May 8, 2024 - pdf - 79.4 KB