ERCOT asks residents to continue to conserve electricity throughout weekend

AUSTIN (CBSNewsTexas.com) - The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is continuing its request for Texas residents and businesses to conserve electricity use to avoid entering "emergency conditions" amid extreme heat. Conservation thus far has helped ERCOT avoid an emergency.

On Sunday, the organization said low wind and potential low solar generation along with high demand is still lowering its reserve. If safe to do so, ERCOT is asking residents to, again, conserve electricity use from 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. CT. If electricity is not conserved, ERCOT will potentially enter emergency operations. 

As of 12:00 p.m. Sunday, the predicted demand was higher than ERCOT's predicted capacity available, again, starting at 7:50 p.m. Sunday evening.  

ERCOT also requested conservation from residents and businesses Thursday, Friday and Saturday. As of 12:00 p.m. Saturday, the predicted demand was higher than ERCOT's predicted capacity available starting at 7:50 p.m. 

As of 1:00 p.m. Friday, the supply and demand chart shows the predicted capacity available was higher than ERCOT's predicted demand throughout the evening.

On Thursday, the predicted demand was higher than ERCOT's predicted capacity available for at least an hour starting at 7:40 p.m. as you can see in this photo gallery. On X, the organization said it "avoided potential emergency operations 8/24, due to conservation by Texas residents & businesses, Houston-area rain, increased wind, & additional reliability tools."

ERCOT's tips for saving energy 

• Raise your thermostat by a degree or two in the summer (Lower it by a degree or two in the winter)
• Avoid using large appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, ovens, etc.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances
• Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight and shut them off during peak hours
• Commercial businesses: Turn off lights and office equipment when not in use or place them in sleep mode
• Commercial businesses: Turn off air-conditioning/heating outside of business hours

You can find additional energy-saving tips at ERCOT's website here.

ERCOT is asking residents to stay tuned for any further updates throughout the weekend. You can sign up for the Texas Advisory and Notification System here and you can subscribe to ERCOT Emergency Alerts here.