DALLAS (AP) – Electricity demand in Texas is expected to hit record levels this summer, and with a thin margin of reserve power, the operator of the state’s grid said it may have to ask businesses and consumers to conserve.
Officials at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, are not ruling out rolling blackouts, although they say other measures are more likely including importing power from other grids.
ERCOT predicted Wednesday that demand will rise as high as 74,853 megawatts. That’s 1,300 megawatts higher than the record set last July 19.
The grid operator predicts that demand will grow at an above-normal rate of 2.5% to 3% every year through 2022.
Demand is booming partly because of growing West Texas oil and gas operations and industrial development along the Gulf Coast.
ERCOT said if it does have to ask businesses and consumers to save, there are several easy tips on how to do so.
According to PowerToSaveTexas.org, some quick tips include turning down your air conditioning a degree or two higher than normal and flipping off the lights and other energy switches that you are not using.
The website said the average homeowner spends $100 a year on devices that are turned off but still using power.
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