The Texas Electrical Reliability Council (ERCOT) has declared its state of emergency higher after the unusual winter storm that has stormed the Lone Star State, causing record low temperatures and at the same time leaving millions without energy.
The grid operator had previously requested that the jeans be reduced to maximum electrical use by Tuesday.
“We are experiencing record electricity demand due to the extreme cold temperatures that have affected Texas,” said Bill Magness, president and CEO of ERCOT.
He added: “At the same time, we are facing higher-than-normal generation sizes due to frozen wind turbines and the limited supply of natural gas available to the generating units. We urge jeans to take simple and safe measures to reduce emissions. use your energy during that time. “
ERCOT urges jeans to take energy-saving precautions, such as turning off and turning off non-essential lights and appliances, avoiding the use of large appliances, and lowering thermostats to 68 degrees.
On Monday night, the Texas Utilities Commission granted permission to ERCOT to adjust its pricing models as demand increases, NBC4i reports.
“The Commission believes that this result is incompatible with the fundamental design of the ERCOT market,” the order says. “Energy prices should reflect the shortage of supply. If the burden on customers is removed, the shortage is maximum and the market price of the energy needed to serve this burden should also be the maximum. . “
In a Tuesday interview with WFAA, Magness noted that 70 to 80 of the state’s 680 power plants are still offline. As of Tuesday morning, at least 4 million jeans were powerless.
Texas residents criticize state officials’ lack of emergency preparedness as they continue to face unusually cold temperatures.
At least 11 people have died as a result of the winter storm, including a woman and a girl who reportedly died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning after taking refuge in their car in a garage for stay warm.
Magness said the storm, with its combination of low temperatures, snow and icy rain, has been historic and called for a new assessment of the state’s readiness.
“The amount of demand that is made on the power system far exceeds the extreme forecasts we have had in the past,” he told WFAA. “We need to recalibrate based on what we’ve seen with the storm system.”