Texas heat wave explained: What does it have to do with the ERCOT power grid?
Texas heat wave explained: What does it have to do with the ERCOT power grid?
BY DALIA FAHEID UPDATED MAY 06, 2022 10:51 AM
With weekend temperatures forecast to climb into the high 90s, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is expecting a higher demand for energy, which could result in Texans losing power.
ERCOT is issuing an [Operating Condition Notice] for Extreme Hot Weather with forecasted temperatures to be above 94°F in the North Central and South Central weather zones, from Friday, May 6, 2022 until Monday, May 9, 2022, the grid operator wrote on its public notices page on Tuesday.
On Thursday afternoon, ERCOT announced the tight grid conditions could last through Wednesday as temperatures remain in the upper 90s.
Because the grid has proven to be unreliable in the recent past, you might be wondering what factors contribute to the tight conditions. Here are the answers to questions you might have about how the extreme heat could impact the states power grid, plus what you should do to stay safe in a potential power outage.
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