No Rolling Blackout Problems Here! - Texas

For those of you who have not figured it out....it's HOT here in Texas. Not that being HOT here is news...but it's APRIL! Anyway, we have had a couple of days of rolling blackouts a la Southern Cal style, and it has some concerned. Just received this email from our building management, and I thought it might be of interest to others out there!


K




"Outlook for today from ERCOT

ERCOT expects there to be sufficient generation statewide today to handle the expected demand for electricity -- even with temperatures at the levels they reached yesterday.

Therefore if all generating plants and transmission lines throughout the state operate without problems, ERCOT does not expect to require rolling blackouts across the state this afternoon.

However, ERCOT is asking all citizens and businesses statewide to reduce electric use to the extent possible between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. this afternoon to provide an additional margin of safety.

Also, Austin Energy will implement the coordinated cycling of air conditioners via radio wave today between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. of customers in the Austin Energy free thermostat program.

This is a program whereby Austin Energy provides a free state-of-the art programmable thermostat to residential and small business customers along with free installation. The thermostats are outfitted with devices that allow Austin Energy to coordinate their cycling to strategically reduce demand when needed. About 50,000 Austin Energy customers participate in the program. By coordinating the cycling of a portion of the thermostats at once, Austin Energy can reduce the peak demand on its system – which in turn will help the statewide electric grid. Customers will not generally notice because their air conditioning still operates – however, the cycling of units is merely being coordinated.

To conserve power today between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.. turn off lights, reduce air conditioning use to the extent possible perhaps by using fans, reduce the use of non-essential electrical appliances and keep blinds and curtains closed to block out sunlight, which will help keep homes and apartments cooler. "

Wow

Im not sure which I am impressed with more, the warm temps causing blackouts in April, or the fact a company can controll 50,000 thermostats remotely.

WOW