Peak demand for Texas grid coming Friday morning
The Texas power grid continued to generate more than enough electricity Thursday afternoon to outstrip big demand statewide amid freezing temperatures and a wintry mix of sleet and snow.
Storm-related problems, such as downed power lines, caused scattered power outages in some regions.
But grid conditions were normal overall — meaning power supplies were sufficient for current demand — according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid.
Demand totaled about 63,800 megawatts around 3:30 p.m., a substantial increase from about 46,000 megawatts around the same time Wednesday, before the storm hit.
Still, ERCOT listed its operating reserves at about 8,500 megawatts Thursday afternoon, and it said previously that the grid has a total generating capacity of about 86,000 megawatts if needed.
Peak electricity demand Thursday is estimated at 67,300 megawatts at around 8 p.m. — compared to demand of about 52,500 megawatts at the same time Wednesday, prior to the storm.
On Friday, demand is expected to peak around 8 a.m. and total 73,486 megawatts, according to ERCOT’s latest forecast.
Prices on the ERCOT wholesale electricity market were climbing as a result of the big demand. That’s because the state's deregulated electricity market relies mainly on financial incentives to prompt generators to deliver more power to the grid in times of high usage.
The spot price of wholesale electricity on the grid was averaging about $36 per megawatt hour Thursday afternoon, although some prices in the day-ahead wholesale market topped $131.
The typical wholesale spot price under normal circ*mstances is about $25 per megawatt hour.
In December, state regulators cut the maximum allowable price by about 45%, dropping it from $9,000 per megawatt hour to $5,000.
The previous $9,000 price ceiling was behind much of the direct financial havoc caused by the near collapse of the power grid in February 2021. At the time, multiple days of subfreezing temperatures and prolonged precipitation caused a cascade of failures across the energy sector — triggering extensive blackouts on the grid that contributed to hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage.
One megawatt of electricity can power about200 homes.
Power returns for most in Hill County
Most Hays and Comal County residents have seen power return on Thursday afternoon.
According to the Pedernales Electric Cooperative outage map, around 66 people – mainly in Comal County – were without power as of 3p.m. for a total of four outages.
The company manages more than 366,000 meters south and west of Austin, and in the Hill Country. JP Urban, executive vice president forPEC, said there are still a few outages throughout its coverage area, some due to failed equipment that have since been remedied, but that “for the most part things are going smoothly, and they are maintaining with over 99% of meters active.”
More than 3,100 without power in Austin
Austin Energy by 12:20p.m. Thursday reported that about 3,140 customers remained without power.
Of those without power, the outage map showed that 2,348 people were without electricityin downtown Austin, 175 were without power in the North Loop area, and281people were without power in Rollingwood and West Lake Hills in West Austin.
Texas grid continues to operate amid freeze
Despite localized power outages in some regions, the Texas electricity grid was continuing to hold up by midday Thursday to soaring demand for power statewide caused by freezing temperatures and a wintry mix of sleet and snow.
Grid conditions were normal — meaning power supplies were sufficient for current demand — according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid.
Demand totaled about 63,800 megawatts shortly after 11 a.m., compared to about 45,000 megawatts around the same time Wednesday, before the storm hit.
Still, ERCOT listed its operating reserves at about 8,800 megawatts, and it said previously that the grid has a total generating capacity of about 86,000 megawatts if needed.
Peak electricity demand Thursday is expected at around 8 p.m. at just under 70,000 megawatts — compared to demand of about 52,500 megawatts at the same time Wednesdaybeforethe storm.
On Friday, demand is expected to peak at just under 75,000 megawatts at about 8 a.m.
Prices on the ERCOT wholesale electricity market were climbing as a result of the big demand. That’s because the state's deregulated electricity market relies mainly on financial incentives to prompt generators to deliver more power to the grid in times of high usage.
The spot price of wholesale electricity on the grid was averaging about $36 per megawatt hour Thursday morning, although some prices in the day-ahead wholesale market topped $133.
The typical spot price under normal circ*mstances is about $25 per megawatt hour.
In December, state regulators cut the maximum allowable price by about 45%, dropping it from $9,000 per megawatt hour to $5,000.
The previous $9,000 price ceiling was behind much of the direct financial havoc caused by the near collapse of the power grid in February 2021, when multiple days of subfreezing temperatures and prolonged precipitation caused a cascade of failures across the energy sector and a near-collapse of the electricity grid — triggering extensive blackouts that contributed to hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage.
One megawatt of electricity can power about200 homes.
Power coming back online
Power was slowly being restored toCentral Texas following thousands of outages as a result of a freeze thatsettled over the state at around 6 a.m. Thursday.
• Austin Energy, which serves about a million customers, reported that 30 customers were without power in Central Austin, 281 were without electricity in Rollingwood, west ofAustin, and 43 were without power atNorth Loop in Central Austin.
A few remaining customers were without power in parts of South Austin and East Austin.
• Pedernales Electric, which covers most of Hays County and parts of Travis County, reported that 382 meters were down throughout its coverage area, for a total of 25 outages.
About 255 meters were down in residential areas between San Marcos and New Braunfels, withanother 71 meters down near Wimberley. A few meters were also down in areas near Cedar Park andDripping Springs.
• BluebonnetElectric, which covers Bastrop County and parts of Hays County, reported that 90 customers were without power in areas Northof Giddings and west of Lexington.
• Oncor, which serves parts of Williamson County, reported 900 power outages in areas south of Waco.
The majority of the outages were located east of Georgetown.
Only 400 without power in Austin
Austin Energy by 9:30 a.m. Thursday reported that about 400 customers remained without power.
Of those without power, the outage map showed that 11 people were without electricityin downtown Austin and284people were without power in Rollingwood and West Lake Hills in West Austin.
Texas grid holding up
As the freeze set over Central Texas early Thursday, energy companies in Austin and neighboring counties were reporting power outages for thousands of residents.
Travis Countyhad the most power outages reported with 1,369 customers left without electricity, followed by Williamson Countywith681customers without power early Thursday.
Despite localized power outages in some regions, the Texas electricity grid was holding up Thursday morning to soaring demand for power statewide caused by freezing temperatures and a wintery mix of sleet and snow.
Grid conditions were normal — meaning power supplies were sufficient for current demand — according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid.
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Dig deeper:ERCOT expects higher power use amid cold snap, but says Texas grid can handle demand
Demand totaled about 60,700 megawatts just before 9 a.m., compared to about 43,000 megawatts around the same time Wednesday, before the storm hit.
ERCOT grid operating on reserves
Still, ERCOT listed its operating reserves Thursday morning at about 9,100 megawatts, and it said previously that a total of about 86,000 megawatts can be made available if needed.
The ERCOT grid failed during the Texas freeze of 2021, leaving more than five million Texans without power. As of Thursday, a total of68,363 Texans were without electricity from the current freeze.
Check out the latest updates on power outages in Travis County, Hays, Williamson andBastrop counties.
Latest school updates:Austin ISD the latest district to announce winter weather closures Thursday, Friday
Austin Energy outage updates
Austin Energy by 8 a.m. Thursday reported that about 1,369 people were without power.
The areas affected were:
• Rollingwood Drive in est Austin: 281 customers without power with an estimated restoration time of 9: 36 a.m. Thursday.
• Downtown Austin on West 15th Street near North Lamar Boulevard: 49 customers without power with an estimated restoration time of 10:58 a.m.
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• Downtown Austin on the corner of West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and San Gabrielle Street: one customer without power with an estimated restoration time of 10:04 a.m.
• North Loop on East 54th Street in Central Austin: 43 people without power with an estimated restoration time of 8:34 a.m.
Pedernales Electric by 8 a.m. Thursday reported that one to 10 of its customers were without power. The areas affected were:
• Cedar Park: Five meters lostpower with an estimated restoration time of 10:45 a.m.
Williamson County power outages
Bluebonnet Electric as of 8:30 a.m. Thursday reported that 681people were without power in Williamson County in areas below Waco.
The areas affected in that areainclude:
• Temple: 10 customers without power with an unknown restoration time.
The remainder of the power outages were East of Georgetown, where about 671 customers were without electricity.
Hays Countypower outages
Pedernales Electric early Thursday reported that a total of 283 of its meters had lost power, with most expected to come online before noon.The areas effected were:
• Kyle: Four meters lost power with an estimated restoration time of 10:30 a.m.
• Wimberly: 33 meters lost power with an estimated restoration time of 10:30 a.m.
• River Road near Hueco Springs Loop Road:230 meters affected with an estimated restoration time of 10 a.m
• Rust Lane near Chapman Road: 16 meters affected with an estimated restoration time of 10:30 a.m.
Latest school updates:Austin ISD the latest district to announce winter weather closures Thursday, Friday
Bastrop Countypower outages
There were no power outages reported in Bastrop County as of 8:30 a.m. Thursday.
