{"id":4976,"date":"2020-01-14T11:54:47","date_gmt":"2020-01-14T17:54:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.texaselectricityratings.com\/blog\/?p=4976"},"modified":"2020-01-14T11:54:47","modified_gmt":"2020-01-14T17:54:47","slug":"ercot-adds-2-to-summer-electricity-outlook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texaselectricityratings.com\/blog\/ercot-adds-2-to-summer-electricity-outlook\/","title":{"rendered":"ERCOT Adds 2% to Summer Electricity Outlook"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"ERCOT

ERCOT says 2% more in its reserve means it’s ready for summer. But is your home ready for the Texas heat? What’s your Summer Electricity Outlook? <\/center><\/p><\/div>\n

How much Texas electricity will be available this summer?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Imagine you\u2019ve just come in from mowing your lawn on a scorching Texas afternoon. As you cross your home\u2019s threshold, you feel an immediate blast of cold air slam into your body. The only thing more refreshing will be the shower that rinses away the sweat, dirt, and grass clippings from your sticky skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But you notice something. That cold blast of air isn\u2019t as cold as you expected it to be. You check your thermostat to find your indoor temperature is 79 degrees. However, you know you always keep a daytime setting of 74 degrees. You\u2019re in a <\/span>rolling blackout<\/span> because electricity utility companies had to shut off power to some homes temporarily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last summer, this unfortunate experience did not come to pass. Though experts were concerned, the reserve margins for the <\/span>Texas electricity grid<\/span> were just enough to meet peak demand. This year’s summer, however, the electricity outlook compiled by the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) forecasts a larger reserve margin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A significantly higher reserve margin<\/span><\/h3>\n

For summer 2020, the ERCOT forecasts a reserve margin of 10.6% which is a full two percentage points higher than last summer\u2019s reserve margin of 8.6%. Two primary factors are at play in determining the reserve margin: <\/span>the peak demand forecast and resource updates from power generation facility developers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the state\u2019s population grows, so does the <\/span>Texas electricity demand<\/span>. Last summer\u2019s all time high of 74,820 MW was set on Aug. 12, 2019, between 4 and 5 p.m. This summer, ERCOT predicts peak demand will surpass that amount, reaching 76,696 MW.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Texas power generation<\/span> is expected to exceed this peak demand projection. Though many planned generation projects are delayed, few are completely scrapped. Therefore, the generation projects still moving forward are remain factored into <\/span>ERCOT\u2019s December Capacity, Demand and Reserves Report<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does this mean for Texas electricity customers?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Even though the 2020 summer electricity outlook looks rosier than it did for 2019, customers should still <\/span>conserve Texas electricity<\/span>. Making a few minor changes to your daily routine will help keep Texans from experiencing rolling blackouts:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n