Potential record-breaking heat could push Texas power grid to the brink this weekend

[TexasTowelie]

Texas residents could be facing potential blackout conditions this weekend in response to spiking temperatures in the Lone Star State and corresponding surges in demand on its notoriously fickle power grid.

According to Austin-based energy consultant Doug Lewin, the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is expecting demand for power to reach 69.3 gigawatts on Saturday, May 7 as temperatures in Houston and Dallas hit highs in the low-to-mid '90s and eclipse 100 in towns such as Midland and Laredo.

"This Saturday, ERCOT expects 69.3GW of demand, an insane amount for a weekend in early May," Lewin tweeted Monday, estimating that the figure would likely be a record for energy demand on the state grid in the month of May.

Link to tweet

Lewin stated that the previous May record, to his best knowledge, peaked around 67 gigawatts. Making matters worse, ERCOT is expecting 20 gigawatts of Texas thermal plants powered by coal and gas to be offline for maintenance during the peak demand window of the coming heat, according to Lewin.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/weather/article/Houston-weather-Texas-power-grid-ERCOT-supply-17142868.php

Same crappy electric grid at a greater price! Thanks Governor Abbott.