Texans urged to conserve energy Tuesday morning amidst forecast high demand and arctic conditions

As a winter storm blankets the entire state of Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is issuing a critical plea to Texans: conserve energy on Tuesday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

ERCOT managed to avoid emergency operations Monday morning, thanks to the concerted efforts of Texas residents and businesses, coupled with additional grid reliability tools.

However, the situation remains precarious, prompting ERCOT to anticipate similar conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

ERCOT said in a release that the call for conservation does not imply an immediate emergency, but rather a proactive measure to prevent potential grid instability.

• RELATED: Track the Texas power grid: Here’s how to monitor ERCOT’s current grid conditions in real-time

Why the appeal to reduce usage?

1. Weather: Most of Texas is experiencing an unprecedented cold spell, with temperatures remaining extremely low for an extended period.
2. Demand: Texas is experiencing record-breaking demand due to the cold weather.
3. Solar: Solar generation is limited during the early morning hours, a peak demand time in winter, gradually increasing as the sun rises.
4. Wind: Wind generation is projected to be lower than seasonal expectations during the early morning hours.

Peak demand records shattered

• Last night, a new January peak demand of 70,982 MW was recorded, surpassing the previous record set in 2018.
• Today, ERCOT shattered its own January peak, reaching an all-time winter record of 75,559 MW in the in the 9-10 a.m. hour.
• The previous winter peak demand record of 74,525 MW was set December 23, 2022, in the 7-8 a.m. hour during Winter Storm Elliott.
• In 2023, January peak demand was 65,632 MW in the 6-7 p.m. hour January 31.
• The all-time peak demand record of 85,508 MW occurred August 10, 2023.
• View ERCOT’s all-time peak demand records.

What Houston can expect today through Wednesday

This is the weather forecast outlined by the National Weather Service Office - Houston/Galveston. As evening falls, winds are expected to escalate from breezy to windy, with inland gusts reaching 20 to 25 mph and even higher gusts along the coast. The convergence of north winds and extremely cold temperatures will create frigid wind chill values tonight and persist into Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The gravity of the situation is emphasized by the issuance of Hard Freeze Warnings effective from midnight through 9 a.m. Wednesday. Wind Chill Advisories will be in effect through mid-Tuesday morning, with an upgrade to a warning for the far northern counties, such as the Brazos Valley area, where wind chills as low as 5 below zero are anticipated. Additionally, Freeze Warnings are extended to the islands, remaining in effect through noon Tuesday. Texans are urged to stay informed and take necessary precautions as they navigate through these challenging weather conditions.

• MORE: Model update on how cold Houston mornings will be