The state’s power grid operator asked Texans to conserve energy use on five consecutive afternoons. Over the last week, customers in ERCOT have witnessed a number of conservation notices from local utilities, retail electric providers, and cooperatives. A conservation notice is issued when ERCOT identifies periods of time when the reserves of electric power generation are beginning to narrow. This informs the public about the need for conservation.
Residential consumers may not realize the high prices that occur during peak hours because they have fixed price contracts. Rather than pass through that pricing, policymakers have issued voluntary notices that ask customers to change behaviors for a few hours. These conservation efforts may continue to play a role to help the Texas grid bypass the need for emergency conditions to be implemented.