Summer is coming. And after 2021, every Texan should understand how the ERCOT grid works and what to do when it's stressed.
What is ERCOT?
- Electric Reliability Council of Texas — operates the power grid for 90% of Texas
- Texas has its OWN grid, separate from the Eastern and Western interconnections
- This means we can't easily borrow power from other states during emergencies
Grid condition levels (know these):
- Normal: Everything fine. No action needed.
- Conservation Alert: Grid is stressed. ERCOT asks you to reduce usage. Turn up thermostat, postpone laundry/dishes.
- Energy Emergency Level 1 (EEA1): Reserves are critically low. Reduce all non-essential electricity.
- EEA2: Rolling blackouts may be imminent. Serious conservation required.
- EEA3: Rolling blackouts are happening. This is what happened in February 2021.
What's changed since 2021:
- SB 3 required power plants to weatherize (Texas Legislature, 2021)
- Battery storage capacity has tripled (ERCOT reports)
- New gas plants have come online adding ~10 GW of capacity
- BUT: demand has also increased due to crypto mining, data centers, and population growth
- NET improvement: modest. Risk is lower but not eliminated.
How to prepare:
- Have a battery backup for your phone (charged and ready)
- Keep flashlights with fresh batteries accessible
- Fill prescriptions before extreme weather events
- Have 3 days of water stored (1 gallon per person per day)
- Know how to manually open your garage door
- Consider a portable battery station (Jackery, EcoFlow) for essentials
How to track the grid in real time:
- ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards — real-time supply/demand dashboard
- @ERCOT_ISO on Twitter for alerts
- Your electric provider will send alerts during conservation events
Source: ERCOT public dashboards, Texas SB 3 weatherization requirements, PUC of Texas reports
If you have a Nest or Ecobee thermostat, enroll in the Rush Hour Rewards program. Your thermostat auto-adjusts during grid stress and some providers give you bill credits for participating.