With High Temperatures Expected, ERCOT Urges Consumers to Conserve Power

As North Texas enters a second day of triple-digit temperatures, ERCOT is urging conservation during peak hours to reduce demand on the state's electric grid. ERCOT, the state's grid regulator, expects that today's peak load will be 65,560 megawatts, and that the system should be able to handle the load without any emergency alerts.

As the load nears capacity, additional megawatts cost more per megawatt, and any unplanned loss of generation can cause problems more quickly.

ERCOT recommends the following conservation steps to take between the peak hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Turn your thermostat up by two or three degrees in the late afternoon.


• If you will be away from home throughout the day, turn your thermostat up before leaving home in the morning.


• Set pool pumps to run late at night or early in the morning.


• Avoid using large appliances, especially hot stoves and clothes dryers, during the peak.