Your daily dose of Austin
Every morning, we send you a free email packed with Austin news, business, and entertainment. Join 20,000+ readers who wake up to Austonia's newsletter.
×
power grid
Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
Popular
(Austin Energy)
Demand for the statewide power grid hit over 65,000 Mw at 5 p.m., just under the capacity the grid can handle. ERCOT announced approximately 2,900 Mw of power was lost on Friday due to six power generation facilities tripping offline. At 5 p.m. it said all reserve generation resources available are operating. Texans have been asked to conserve energy.
As the power grid threatens to buckle under the weight of consumers, record-breaking heat continues to push up demand. Austin is currently in the hottest May on record, with temperatures averaging at 82 degrees—eight degrees higher than average—at Austin's Camp Mabry.
And Austin is expected to have another triple-digit onslaught next week, with temperatures peaking at highs of 100 degrees Friday and Saturday. As a result, demand could peak Monday, with forecast demand expected to reach a May record of 70,758 Mw. The previous record was 67,265 in 2018, while ERCOT's all-time high was 74,820 Mw in August 2019.
While ERCOT has not yet seen a heat surge reminiscent of 2021's Winter Storm Uri, power outage woes became all too real for around 3,600 southeast Austinites Saturday as Austin Energy put on a last-resort power pause from around 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The outage was a culmination of many factors—from near-100 degree heat to unfortunately-timed maintenance checks and growth in the Bluff Springs area. The result was an overheating circuit that needed relief fast.
"It was related to high usage overloading one circuit at a time when some of our infrastructure was still undergoing maintenance in preparation for the months to come," Austin Energy spokesperson Matt Mitchell told Austonia. "So it was a very unique set of circumstances that we do not see repeating itself."
Mitchell said that all seasonal maintenance is complete and that Austin Energy will open a new power substation in Bluff Springs this June. The organization also said the issue had nothing to do with ERCOT, which released a statement assuring consumers that power was not threatened during that time.
ERCOT also told Austonia before 5 p.m. that it "projects there will be sufficient generation to meet demand for electricity" on Friday. It then informed the public about the energy loss due to a power trip.
From Your Site Articles
- Beat the heat at these iconic swimming holes in and around Austin ... ›
- Voters decide on decriminalization of weed in May 7 election ... ›
- Austin record heat followed by cold front this weekend - austonia ›
- May broke heat records—so is Austin is in for a hot summer ... ›
- 3 reasons Texas and Austin don't have enough power - austonia ›
- Austin Energy earned $54M in net revenue during winter storm ... ›
- Texans report thermostat manipulation from energy companies ... ›
- ERCOT: Controlled outages over after Texas weather emergency ... ›
- Central Texas move-ins grapple with Austin's triple-degree heat wave - austonia ›
- Austin shatters June heat record with 21 days of 100-degree highs - austonia ›
- Texans asked to conserve energy to protect the power grid for the second time in a week - austonia ›
- Austin Water addresses effect of drought on agriculture - austonia ›
