ERCOT to Texas: There is Enough Power

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) indicated that summer power reserves in the Lone Star State have reached a decade low, following retirement of three coal-fired power plants. However, the state’s grid operator said reserve margins are at 11%, which is above the 9.3% it had announced in February 2018. Reserves increased due to a power plant that will come online sooner than what was initially thought.

ERCOT is responsible for ensuring there is enough power in the state to meet demand during the hot summer months. In 2010, the organization adopted guidelines for its reserve margins to exceed demand by at least 13.75%.

Although reserves are higher, the grid operator is predicting record-breaking power demand over the summer. As a result, ERCOT officials warn of potential rotating outages, better known as rolling blackouts.

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