Rolling power outages could sweep across the state through Tuesday if demand outpaces supply as expected because of the bitter cold.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, emphasized Texans should reduce energy consumption as temperatures dropped. The grid could reach unprecedented winter demands, said Dan Woodfin, ERCOT’s senior director of system operations.
Demand is one of the issues facing the power grid, but the cold is causing other problems, too. Electric generators are vying for natural gas as people turn to that fuel for heating. Icy conditions also knocked out almost half of the state’s wind power generation capacity as wind turbines froze across the state, Woodfin added.
“Due to this high demand and reduced resource availability … we could be in emergency operations as early as … [Sunday night] and we would expect to be in emergency operations tomorrow through at least Tuesday morning,” he said.
There are three levels of energy emergency alerts, and rotating power outages are the last resort to ensure the state power grid remains stable.
Then, ERCOT directs the entities that own transmission and distribution wires, such as Oncor, to reduce the overall demand and by how much. Those providers will initiate rotating outages, turning off power to neighborhoods for about 15 to 30 minutes at a time, Woodfin said.
ERCOT hopes to reduce the possibility of people losing power for uncertain periods by spreading the outages in small, controlled amounts.
The last time ERCOT initiated systemwide rotating outages was Feb. 2, 2011, only the third time in its history. That was around when a snowstorm hit North Texas just before Cowboys Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLV. It came on the heels of heavy sleet, and the temperature didn’t rise above 29 degrees from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4.
ERCOT officials try to prevent rotating outages in energy emergency alert levels one and two by tapping into additional megawatts that become available once an emergency is declared. ERCOT triggers its Emergency Alert System when operating reserves drop to 2,300 megawatts.
At normal conditions, operating reserves are above 3,000 megawatts. On Sunday afternoon, that figure was at about 4,200 but expected to drop, Woodfin said.
ERCOT also can import power from elsewhere, such as Mexico and the southwest power pool. But that was already happening because of market demands, not at ERCOT’s request, Woodfin said.
ERCOT initiates rotating outages when the reserves get down to 1,000 megawatts and aren’t expected to recover within 30 minutes, and all the additional resources have been tapped, he said. The timeline for running through the other levels could be only a matter of hours.
ERCOT officials anticipate demand will shatter the winter peak record of 65,915 megawatts and reach summer levels, which are typically higher as people run air conditioning in their homes and businesses.
“The peak demand on Monday and Tuesday is currently forecasted to meet or exceed our all-time summer peak demand of 74,820 megawatts,” Woodfin said.
1/37A man walks his dog across Hillcrest near Lovers lane as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in University Park. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
2/37Madeline Daniel (right), 6, and her brother Riley, 8, sled in the snow at Flag Pole Hill Park on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. The region is currently under a winter storm warning. The Daniel’s father, Matt, said he bought the sled five years ago, hoping it would one day come in handy when he bought a house on the hill. “I bought it in the middle of summer that year,” he laughed. “I’m glad they’re finally getting to enjoy it.”(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
3/37Traffic moves through snow on US-75 near the High Five interchange as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News)(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
4/37An American Airlines jet is de-iced at DFW International Airport before takeoff as winter flurries arrive in Irving on Sunday, February 14, 2021 ahead of major snowstorm.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)
5/37Traffic moves through snow on US-75 near the High Five interchange as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
6/37John Bain and his son, Everett, 3, sled down a hill on a paddleboard in the snow at Flag Pole Hill Park on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
7/37Melting water froze solid on a rain chain, as the afternoon temperature hovered around 18 degrees F in the Cochran Heights neighborhood of Dallas, on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. As temperatures dropped to near-record lows Sunday, electricity operators warned that demand could overwhelm the state’s power grid and force rotating power outages.(Michael Hamtil / Staff photographer)
8/37With the afternoon temperature hovering around 18 degrees F, with a wind chill of 4, Caroline and Peter Clark, of East Dallas, embrace the snowy Valentines Day weather by cross country skiing together in their Cochran Heights neighborhood, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 in Dallas. As temperatures dropped to near-record lows Sunday, electricity operators warned that demand could overwhelm the state’s power grid and force rotating power outages.(Michael Hamtil / Staff photographer)
9/37People walk past frozen fountains on Hillcrest near Lovers lane as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in University Park. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
10/37Mae, 9, and Vaughn, 11, Scrogginthorpe get a push from their dad Micah Scrogginthorpe they sled in the empty street front of the home in Richardson as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
11/37Liz Scrogginthorpe watches snow fall from her front window as her husband and children play in front of the home in Richardson as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
12/37Sterling Stuber, 2, reaches for snow tossed above her by her father Langford Stuber, as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in University Park. A winter storm watch has been issued for all of North Texas, including Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties and will be in effect from late Saturday through Monday afternoon.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
13/37A car crash on TX-12 Loop Northwest near Shady Brook Ln as winter flurries arrive in Dallas on Sunday, February 14, 2021 ahead of major snowstorm.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)
14/37Dustin McBlain gets his dog, Ellie, ready for a walk in the snow at Flag Pole Hill Park on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. The region is currently under a winter storm warning. (Lynda M. González/The Dallas Morning News)(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
15/37A person walks through snow past AT&T Discovery District in Downtown Dallas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. The region is currently under a winter storm warning.(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
16/37Traffic on Texas 114 TEXpress near MacArthur Blvd Winter flurries arrive in Irving on Sunday, February 14, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)
17/37The water is frozen over at the cattle drive statues at The Plaza in front of the Dallas Convention Center in downtown Dallas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. The region is currently under a winter storm warning.(Lynda M. González / Staff Photographer)
18/37At the corner of Community Drive and TX-12 Loop Northwest Maria Olvera and Amparo Mejias have a stall selling floral decorations for Valentine’s Day in Dallas on Sunday, Februaryn 24, 2021. Olvera said that due to the snowstorm, sales have been low.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)
19/37Light traffic on TX-12 Loop Northwest as it continues to snow and temperatures keep dropping in Dallas on Sunday, February 24, 2021.(Lola Gomez / Staff Photographer)
20/37Owen Hulme (right) douses his brother Mitchell Hulme with a sled full of snow while sledding down a steep snow-covered street in North Arlington, Sunday evening, February 14, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
21/37Owen Hulme (center) and his friends walk back up a steep snow-covered street in North Arlington as they sledded, Sunday evening, February 14, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
22/37Sayan Mandal (left) and Ryan Lane take a break from sledding to make snow angels on a steep snow covered street in North Arlington, Sunday, February 14, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
23/37Wyatt Wheeler wipes out as he sleds down a steep snow-covered street in North Arlington, Sunday, February 14, 2021.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)
24/37Idle Southwest Airlines planes sits at gates at Dallas Love Field as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. By evening all commercial flights were cancelled and all ticket counters were closed at the airport.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
25/37Flight status boards show all flights cancelled at Dallas Love Field as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. By evening all commercial flights were cancelled and all ticket counters were closed at the airport.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
26/37Miryea Gist (left) and Mikaela Dudley wait in heavy snow to cross Mockingbird Lane near Dallas Love Field as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. Gist and Dudley were stranded at the airport when their flight home to Phoenix was cancelled, and with the airport closed, and no services open, they made roughly one mile walk to a QuikTrip store just to find food.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
27/37People wait in driving snow at the Pearl/Arts District station as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. DART suspended all rail operations Sunday night.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
28/37Gabriel Wilke and Gabrielle Rader make snow angles in the middle of Thomas Avenue near Griggs Park as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
29/37A woman walks a dog on Thomas Avenue near Griggs Park as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
30/37Victor Escamilla looks down the tracks as people wait in driving snow at the Pearl/Arts District station as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas. DART suspended all rail operations Sunday night.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
31/37Snow falls on Dealy Plaza and Reunion Tower downtown as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
32/37Blowing snow obscures people walking along Bryan Streen near the Pearl/Arts District station as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
33/37With temperatures already falling into the single digits homeless person sleeps in the doorway of the Majestic Theater as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
34/37A man is illuminated by a streetlight as he walks a dog along Harwood Street as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
35/37Valentines Day themed windows at the Neiman Marcus flagship store downtown are framed by snowy streets as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
36/37Elm Street is quiet in front of the Cambria Hotel as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
37/37A lone car is covered in snow in a downtown parking lot as a winter storm brings snow and freezing temperatures to North Texas on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Dallas.(Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
The Public Utility Commission of Texas urged Texans to turn their thermostats to 68 degrees or lower, close shades and blinds to cut down on heat loss through windows, turn off and unplug non-essential appliances and lighting, and avoid using large appliances such as washers and dryers.
“The lowest temperatures Texas has seen in decades necessitate a shared response across the state, from households to factories,” PUC chair DeAnn Walker said in a written statement. “Along with the tools ERCOT uses to maintain the reliability of the grid, common-sense conservation also plays a critical role in our state’s endurance of this challenge.”
People also should lower their water heater temperature, Atmos Energy said in tips published Saturday. Up to 25% of energy consumed in a home can come from a water heater, according to the Dallas-based utility company. The maximum temperature should be 120 degrees, it said.
Other reminders include closing the dampers of fireplaces when they’re not in use and making sure filters are clean.
Ovens and gas stovetops should never be used to heat homes, and doing so can be dangerous. A gas odor should prompt folks to leave the area and call 911 and Atmos Energy’s emergency phone number: 866-322-8667.