Record electricity demand in Texas; conservation urged

McALLEN — The recent heat wave has pushed electricity demand across Texas to an all-time record on Wednesday.

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, is urging businesses and consumers to cut their electricity use during peak demand hours, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.

Much of Texas — including Hidalgo and Starr counties — remains under a heat advisory from the National Weather Service throughout today.

The temperature was 101 degrees at the McAllen-Miller International Airport shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday and is expected to reach a high of 104 by later this afternoon.

Businesses and consumers are encouraged to:
>> Set air conditioning thermostats to 80 degrees or higher.
>> Cool with fans.
>> Close blinds and drapes on windows that get direct sun.
>> Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and electronic equipment.
>> Avoid using big appliances between the hours of 3 to 7 p.m.

ERCOT operates the electrical transmission grid for most of the state and set a new record Wednesday afternoon. The operator issued a "Power Watch" on Thursday, meaning high electricity usage was expected.

Consumers used an hourly average of 62,786 megawatts (MW) of power between 4 and 5 p.m.  Wednesday. That exceeded the previous all-time peak of 62,339 MW set on Aug. 17, 2006, according to an ERCOT statement.

One megawatt typically powers about 200 average homes during hot summer weather.

ERCOT spokeswoman Dottie Roark said the operator expected to set a new record Thursday afternoon, but data forecasts showed energy demand dropping lower from forecasts earlier today.

"As a precaution, we did the 'Power Watch' to let folks know that things would be a little bit tight," she said. "It helps to reduce the pressure on the grid operator."

Demand for electricity is expected to drop Friday and into the weekend, when many businesses reduce operations or close, cutting energy usage, Roark said.

• See more conservation tips at "Powerful Advice," Public Utility Commission of Texas: www.puc.state.tx.us./ocp/conserve