As North Texas braces for an incoming winter storm this week, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is confident the state’s power grid is better prepared than during the catastrophic events of 2021.
Winter Weather Forecast
A winter storm is expected to move into North Texas on Thursday, bringing a mix of snow, rain, and sleet. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect through Friday morning.
ERCOT has issued a weather watch for the same period, a precautionary measure to alert residents of potentially significant weather that could increase electricity demand.
Power Grid Readiness
According to ERCOT, the grid is well-equipped to handle the anticipated freezing temperatures and heightened power usage. The agency’s six-day supply and demand forecast projects peak energy usage on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with demand reaching 64,000 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday and 66,000 MW on Thursday.
Importantly, ERCOT anticipates a comfortable surplus of nearly 20,000 MW over the expected demand. This reserve capacity underscores the improvements made to the grid since the failures of 2021.
Lessons from 2021
The devastating winter storm of February 2021 left millions without power for days, claimed 246 lives, and exposed critical weaknesses in the state’s energy infrastructure. At the time, Dallas-Fort Worth endured 129 consecutive hours below freezing, with temperatures dropping below 20°F for more than 72 hours.
Federal regulators attributed the grid’s failure to frozen equipment at power plants and natural gas facilities. In response, ERCOT has implemented a series of measures designed to fortify the grid, including:
- Weatherizing power generation equipment.
- Activating additional generation capacity earlier during severe weather.
- Increasing reserve power procurement.
ERCOT also reported adding over 10,000 MW of production capacity to the grid within the past year.
Is the Grid at Risk?
Current data suggests the grid is well-positioned to handle the upcoming storm. As of Tuesday evening, ERCOT projected a demand of nearly 58,000 MW against a grid capacity of just over 82,000 MW, leaving more than 11,000 MW in reserve during a weather watch.
ERCOT’s advisory levels provide additional context:
- Weather Watch – Normal grid operations with sufficient reserves.
- Voluntary Conservation Notice – Encourages reduced energy usage.
- Conservation Appeal – Calls for more significant conservation efforts.
- Energy Emergency Levels 1-3 – Triggered by increasingly strained reserves.
For reference, one megawatt is typically sufficient to power 250 residential homes during peak usage.
Stay Informed
Residents are encouraged to monitor the latest updates on weather conditions and grid status:
- Fox 4 Weather App: Stay updated on the forecast.
- ERCOT Website: Access real-time grid conditions and alerts.
For additional resources:
- Local school districts are actively monitoring the weather for potential closures.
- Municipalities like Dallas are preparing for icy conditions.
As North Texas prepares for the cold snap, ERCOT’s preparedness offers reassurance that the lights—and the heat—are likely to stay on.
Photo by Dallas Morning News
