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Central TX braces for possible triple-digit heatwave, ERCOT urges power plants to prepare


The Texas power grid is expected to experience larger than normal demand this weekend as a possible record-breaking heatwave moves into Central Texas, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). (Photo: CBS Austin)
The Texas power grid is expected to experience larger than normal demand this weekend as a possible record-breaking heatwave moves into Central Texas, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). (Photo: CBS Austin)
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The Texas power grid is expected to experience larger than normal demand this weekend as a possible record-breaking heatwave moves into Central Texas, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

ERCOT has alerted power plants to get ready for possible emergency conditions. Energy experts tell CBS Austin this is giving everyone notice to make sure the plants are fired up and ready to go. Central Texans are about to get the first taste of summer and preparations are underway as ERCOT braces for an impact on the power grid.

“What we’re about to see is one of the hottest heat waves that Texas has had in May. So not as hot as we’re likely to get in July or August but pretty hot for this time of the spring," Associate Professor at Rice University, Daniel Cohan said.

ERCOT issued an alert Tuesday due to a possible future emergency condition which asked power plants across the region to postpone planned outages and to return from outages already in progress.

“Right now, we’ve got about 20 gigawatts or about 30% of the power plants that are down for maintenance or other outages," Cohan said.

Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits. Experts said without those plants it will put power in a pinch.

"There's an increasing risk too that if you force them out of their planned maintenance, for them to come out and come back, you're putting more pressure on these machines that makes them less ready for the summer," President of Stoic Energy, Doug Lewin said.

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Crews are working to get the plants back to operational to make sure demand is met.

"We definitely need to get serious in this state about dealing with energy efficiency and residential demand response," Lewin said.

Austin Energy is preparing for this weekend's heat along with a round of storms moving into the area on Thursday. Austin Energy provided tips for the community to help lessen the strain on the grid.

"Setting a thermostat to 78 degrees, running fans in rooms to keep the air circulating throughout that room and throughout the house, turning lights off when you're not in a particular room," Austin Energy spokesperson, Matt Mitchell said.

Experts believe localized outages can't be ruled out and say the demand will be cutting it closer than it should for May.

“People shouldn’t be fearful. This isn’t something like the February 2021 freeze and blackout events,” Cohan said.

ERCOT projects there will be enough generation to meet the high demand for electricity. Crews will be watching this closely until Monday when the heatwave is expected to end. The power grid can be tracked in real-time here.

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