ELECTRIC
ERCOT
During summer and winter, electricity usage across the state is at its highest. This is why ERCOT is most likely to issue Energy Alerts during these times of year. If you’re unfamiliar with ERCOT and ERCOT Alerts or why you need to be aware of them, the FAQs on this page are a great way to learn more. You can find additional information about ERCOT on our blog or you can visit ERCOT on the web. We also regularly write about ERCOT in The GVEC Review and on GVEC Social Media.
What is ERCOT?
What Does ERCOT Do?
What is ERCOT’s role in the power supply chain?
How Does ERCOT predict peak demand for seasonal usage?
Every year, ERCOT takes inventory of statewide generation capacity. From this assessment, the agency creates a forecast of how much total electricity generation will be possible across the grid, all at once, during day-to-day operations around the state. The agency also strives to maintain its reserve capacity each year at 13.75 percent of estimated peak usage.
What does ERCOT do to help prevent power shortages?
Throughout the state, summer is a time of intense electric usage, especially through the week, between 3 and 7 p.m. In addition to this being the hottest part of the day, it’s also when people are arriving home from work and school and are cranking down the AC, turning on the TV, starting dinner, running the dishwasher and so forth.
Winter is also a time consumers pull much energy when heating their homes. Winter peak demands tend to occur during the early morning from 5 to 9 a.m. and early evening from 4 to 9 p.m.
Power shortages between generators and suppliers do happen across the Texas grid. High energy demand at the local level usually doesn’t have much impact statewide; however, an all-at-once spike in demand across the Texas grid that approaches or exceeds total, statewide capacity can have serious consequences for availability. Such spikes are a very real threat during the height of Texas summers or on occasions of extreme winter temperatures. One of ERCOTS’s most important tools for helping restrain usage across the grid is known as the four coincidental peaks (4CP).
What is 4CP?
You may have read about the four yearly coincidental peaks in The GVEC Review or here on our blog. The 4CPs occur one per month every June, July, August and September. These peaks happen when demand for electricity across the statewide grid reaches its highest point. ERCOT bases the next year’s share of transmission costs for each Texas provider on the provider’s share of grid demand during these four peaks. It’s important, then, for each consumer within a provider’s territory to restrain usage as much as possible during 4CPs to keep rates down.
As a way to help our members reduce usage during the 4CPs, GVEC has partnered with ecobee and Nest® to offer Peak-Time Payback, our latest and most rewarding peak-time usage program. For more information on how you can help reduce GVEC’s overall grid demand during ERCOT’s 4CPs—and get paid doing it—visit our Peak-Time Payback page.
What does ERCOT do if system-wide electricity shortages hit the Texas power grid?
What are ERCOT’s Energy Alert Levels?
Conservation Alert
At this level, ERCOT aims to raise public awareness about shrinking reserves and the need to actively conserve energy to prevent emergency conditions.
Emergency Alerts
Level 1: The first EEA level is Conservation Needed. ERCOT issues this alert when operating reserves drop below a target threshold. This level puts providers on notice to take preliminary measures to curb demand before the situation worsens.
Level 2: If conditions worsen, ERCOT will next issue an EEA Level 2 – Conservation Critical. At this level, providers are permitted to reduce their power load by interrupting supply to large commercial and industrial accounts. The contracts these clients sign stipulate that such measures may be necessary in an emergency.
Level 3: If power supply declines further, ERCOT will then declare an EEA Level 3 – Rotating Outages in Progress, the final alert level. At this level, ERCOT will require electricity providers throughout the state to begin introducing temporary outages at the local distribution level—also known as rolling brownouts or rotating outages.
What are rotating outages?
Rotating outages, sometimes referred to as “brownouts,” are temporary, controlled interruptions of service. They typically last 15-45 minutes. During these outages, service is interrupted within only one section of a local grid at a time before rolling on to another section. The need for rotating outages across the Texas energy grid are rare. ERCOT has mandated them only three times in its entire history.
Why can’t ERCOT just buy enough reserves to ensure shortages don’t happen?
In the last decade, solar and wind power have emerged as a serious force in the energy marketplace, driving electricity prices steadily downward. Natural gas has also become a factor in energy prices in certain places around the country, including in the ERCOT North hub. New technologies have driven energy prices so low, in fact, that investing in new generation assets has become less economically practical for producers. Many companies are either delaying or canceling new generation projects until the market becomes more favorable.
These market factors, combined with Texas’ ongoing economic and population growth, have created an environment where electricity demand significantly increases each year at a pace faster than reserve energy can be generated. It’s important to note that, no matter how much power that suppliers purchase from their producers, it’s impossible to fill the demand if total generation and reserve capacity across the statewide grid can’t keep up with what consumers use.
ERCOT Efficiency Tips for Winter
Although most people think of summer as the season of extreme temperatures in South Central Texas, winter often hosts significant rises in electricity consumption as people warm their homes when temperatures drop. Here are some tips to help conserve energy during winter weather.
Turn Things Off
Limit electricity usage to only that consumption that is absolutely necessary. Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances and electronic equipment.
Turn Down Your Thermostat
Turn the temperature on your thermostat down to 68 degrees. If that seems too cool, find ways to stay warm in your home without turning up the heat in this blog.
Avoid Peak Time Consumption
Do not use your dishwasher, laundry equipment, hair dryers, coffee makers, pool pump or other home appliances unless absolutely necessary, especially between the hours of 5 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.
Open or Close Your Blinds and Drapes
Open blinds and drapes on sunny days to utilize the sun’s natural heat during the day. Close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through your windows.
Businesses Should Minimize Usage
Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible. Larger consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing nonessential production processes.
ERCOT Efficiency Tips for Summer
Since summer is the one of the year’s highest electricity-use seasons, conserving energy wherever possible is crucial—especially during peak times (see “What is 4CP?” above). Here are some tips for helping conserve through the heat of South Central Texas.
Turn on the Fans...Turn off the Fans
Use fans when you’re home, but turn them off when you leave the room. Although fans don’t lower the room temperature, they make your skin feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler, allowing you to set your thermostat temperature higher.
Raise the Temperature
Set Pool Pumps to Run in the Morning or Overnight
Run Large Appliances Before or After Peak Time
Block Out Heat Gain
Turn Off the Lights
Wash in Cold Water
Don't Dry During Peak Time
Unplug Your Energy Vampires
Change Dirty AC filters
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