State issues another power warning until 7pm today

As the weather continues to crack 100 degrees, the state’s power system continues to suffer, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are once again asking Texans to reduce electricity usage until 7pm.

Staff for ERCOT just announced that peak demand is expected to break 67,700 MW today. When operating reserves reached below 2,300 MW, they initiated Energy Emergency Alert Level 1, meaning they can start bringing in power from other grids. ERCOT is asking residents to reduce electricity use until 7pm.

If things get worse, then ERCOT will go to a Power Warning (Energy Emergency Alert Level 2), which will allow them to drop certain large commercial and industrial customers. The next step after that is a Power Emergency (Energy Emergency Alert Level 3) and that means rolling 15 to 45 minute blackouts. Kent Saathoff, ERCOT’s vice president of system planning and operations, said, “We don’t expect to need additional steps in the emergency procedures today unless we lose a significant amount of generation over the peak period.”

This article appears in August 19 • 2011.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.