ERCOT issues second weather watch of summer as 107-degree day in forecast for North Texas
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, has issued a weather watch this week for high temperatures and power grid demand.
ERCOT’s alert comes as a heat wave grips Fort Worth and North Texas with triple-digit temperatures in the forecast for the entire week. The National Weather Service expects temperatures as high as 104 on Tuesday and 107 degrees Wednesday.
The ERCOT weather watch is for Monday through Friday and serves as a warning for Texans that the heat could cause a strain on the electric grid. As of Monday afternoon, ERCOT says the grid is operating at normal conditions.
Many Texans are weary of the power grid failing, as it did during the February 2021 winter storm. However, energy experts say its unlikely the same type of collapse would happen during the summer months, since the grid is equipped to handle extreme heat better than cold.
In its seasonal assessment, ERCOT concluded that the grid has enough generation capacity to avoid rolling blackouts between June and September. Over 97,000 megawatts are expected to be be available for the summer, along with a reserve margin of 23%.
This is ERCOT’s second weather watch issued this summer, the first coming just two weeks ago. Consumers can log in to monitor grid conditions.
This story was originally published June 26, 2023 at 4:23 PM.
