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Jul 6, 20239 min read

Electricity, Energy, ERCOT

Updated: Jul 16, 2023


Summary: Although our elected Texas representatives and their Texas governmental ERCOT and PUC have been politicking since the deadly failure of the Texas electrical system in February 2021, Texans still have electrical supply that barely meets demand -- and the summer heat has just started. Find the latest research, news, and warning sources in this Index of blogs and articles on about Electricity, Energy, and ERCOT. And start planning for a long hot summer.

Latest Update: Saturday, July 15, 2023, Friday, 07 July, 2023; Monday, 03 July, 2023 Tags# #Electricity #StateLegislation


 

Index of blogs and articles on about Electricity, Energy, and ERCOT.

A compendium of articles, research, and Willow Park Civics Research and Blogs.


Emergency Warning Notices and communications from ERCOT and PUC at Willow Park Civics > City Safety Service > Other Emergency Prep

Latest ALERT: Willow Park Civics Blog > Electricity Warning #2 in two weeks, 25 June to 30 June 2023, 24 June 2023


➜ Latest Info.

Texas needs upgrades to its electricity transmission grid to accommodate a soaring share of renewable energy generation, otherwise the state risks surging shares of curtailments of wind and solar power generation by 2035, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said this week.

Texas ranks first in the United States in terms of installed wind energy capacity and second in solar capacity and storage. Wind energy alone produces 21% of all electricity in the state, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Per EIA’s estimates, the combined wind and solar generating capacity in Texas’s power market is set to double by 2035, fueling a growing renewable share of total generation.

But without grid upgrades, curtailments of wind and solar generation will also soar, the administration said in a recent report discussing the transmission limits on renewables growth in Texas.

Since grid operators must maintain a continuous balance between supply and demand to assure power system reliability, in case more wind and solar power is available for production than the grid can use, grid operators have to curtail wind and solar generation to keep the grid balanced.

Last year, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) curtailed 5% of its total available wind generation and 9% of total available utility-scale solar generation. If grid upgrades are not made, those curtailments could surge to 13% of total available wind generation, and 19% of solar generation by 2035, the EIA said.


• Texas electricity demand hits record high as heat wave continues, Austin American Statesman, 07 July 2023 Excerpts

Summer is barely two weeks old, but demand for electricity on the Texas power grid has already surpassed the projected peak for the season — which wasn't expected to occur for another month.

Peak demand hit 77,460 megawatts Tuesday afternoon, an all-time high. In May, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid, predicted in its annual seasonal assessment that the net peak this summer would come in at 77,317 megawatts on Aug. 10.

But sustained hot temperatures throughout June and early July, combined with what has been booming statewide population growth, has triggered huge demand for electricity to cool homes and businesses amid the sweltering heat wave.


• Texas gets $60 million in federal funds to strengthen power grid against extreme weather, The Texas Tribune, 06 July 2023, Excerpts. The Texas Division of Emergency Management will receive $60.6 million from the federal government to help utilities strengthen infrastructure on the state’s electricity grid. The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that it will award the funds so that Texas’ power grid might better withstand extreme weather events. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the grant program.


• Texas Power Grid Breaks Record for Peak Energy Demand, Texas Scorecard, 29 June 2023 Excerpt While Texans face triple-digit temperatures, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that the state’s power grid broke the all-time peak energy demand record. / On June 27, the peak demand reached 80,828 megawatts, breaking the previous record of 80,148 MW set on July 20, 2022. / The power grid previously exceeded the record demand for the month of June, with June 19 of this year requiring 79,304 MW.


• As heat boils state, business, state leaders discuss energy markets, The Fort Worth Report, 28 June 2023, Excerpt

Among the bills passed in the 88th Texas legislative session were Senate Bill 2627, which created a fund to encourage the construction of gas-fueled power plants and House Bill 1500, which changed how companies that produce electricity make money in the Texas market.

• Energy Experts Discuss TX Power Grid’s Future, The Dallas Express, 03 July 2023


• ERCOT can’t be sued over power grid failures during 2021 winter storm, Texas Supreme Court rules, The Texas Tribune, 23 June 2023, The all-Republican court narrowly found that the nonprofit corporation operating the state’s electrical grid qualifies for sovereign immunity, which protects government entities from lawsuits.



• Abbott appointee resigns as chair of power grid regulator, The Texas Tribune, 02 June 2023, Public Utility Commission chair Peter Lake had spearheaded a plan to help the state’s power grid withstand weather disasters, but the plan lacked support in the Texas Legislature.



 

➜ Resources

• Why Does Texas Have Its Own Power Grid? Houston Public Media, University of Houston, 15 February 2021

• How Texas’ power grid works, The Texas Tribune, 25 February 2021

 

➜ Willow Park Civics Blogs

• Willow Park Civics > City Safety Service > Other Emergency Prep







2022

• Texas Power Grid Still Vulnerable, 09 November 2022


 

➜ Articles

Texas needs upgrades to its electricity transmission grid to accommodate a soaring share of renewable energy generation, otherwise the state risks surging shares of curtailments of wind and solar power generation by 2035, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said this week.

Texas ranks first in the United States in terms of installed wind energy capacity and second in solar capacity and storage. Wind energy alone produces 21% of all electricity in the state, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Per EIA’s estimates, the combined wind and solar generating capacity in Texas’s power market is set to double by 2035, fueling a growing renewable share of total generation.

But without grid upgrades, curtailments of wind and solar generation will also soar, the administration said in a recent report discussing the transmission limits on renewables growth in Texas.

Since grid operators must maintain a continuous balance between supply and demand to assure power system reliability, in case more wind and solar power is available for production than the grid can use, grid operators have to curtail wind and solar generation to keep the grid balanced.

Last year, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) curtailed 5% of its total available wind generation and 9% of total available utility-scale solar generation. If grid upgrades are not made, those curtailments could surge to 13% of total available wind generation, and 19% of solar generation by 2035, the EIA said.


• Texas electricity demand hits record high as heat wave continues, Austin American Statesman, 07 July 2023 Excerpts

Summer is barely two weeks old, but demand for electricity on the Texas power grid has already surpassed the projected peak for the season — which wasn't expected to occur for another month.

Peak demand hit 77,460 megawatts Tuesday afternoon, an all-time high. In May, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid, predicted in its annual seasonal assessment that the net peak this summer would come in at 77,317 megawatts on Aug. 10.

But sustained hot temperatures throughout June and early July, combined with what has been booming statewide population growth, has triggered huge demand for electricity to cool homes and businesses amid the sweltering heat wave.

• Texas Power Grid Breaks Record for Peak Energy Demand, Texas Scorecard, 29 June 2023 Excerpt While Texans face triple-digit temperatures, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that the state’s power grid broke the all-time peak energy demand record. / On June 27, the peak demand reached 80,828 megawatts, breaking the previous record of 80,148 MW set on July 20, 2022. / The power grid previously exceeded the record demand for the month of June, with June 19 of this year requiring 79,304 MW.


• Research Techniques Gleaned From Dallas Study, The Dallas Express, 01 July 2023, Excerpt.

Winter Storm Uri hit Texas in February 2021, dropping temperatures to dangerously low levels and bringing heavy snow and ice accumulation across the state. The storm has become notorious for its role in overwhelming the state power grid, leaving millions without power, some for days.


The Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported that 246 people died across 77 counties due to storm-related incidents, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The Texas Comptroller reported in October 2021 that the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas estimated that financial losses due to the storm would range from $80 billion to $130 billion.


• As heat boils state, business, state leaders discuss energy markets, The Fort Worth Report, 28 June 2023, Excerpt

Among the bills passed in the 88th Texas legislative session were Senate Bill 2627, which created a fund to encourage the construction of gas-fueled power plants and House Bill 1500, which changed how companies that produce electricity make money in the Texas market.


• ERCOT can’t be sued over power grid failures during 2021 winter storm, Texas Supreme Court rules, The Texas Tribune, 23 June 2023





• 88th: Texas power struggle: How the nation’s top wind power state turned against renewable energy., The Texas Tribune, 25 May 2023, State lawmakers have pushed bills to support fossil fuel-burning power plants and restrict renewable energy development this legislative session.







• 88th: Texas Nuclear Power Expansion Crowded Out by Renewable Influx, Natural Gas Focus, The Texan, 17 April 2023. The first large-scale nuclear power plant built in years recently became operational in Georgia. Nuclear power isn’t exactly absent entirely from the Texas Legislature’s discussions of increasing the amount of “dispatchable” generation on the state’s main power grid, but it does linger a few rungs down the ladder of priority.


• 88th: A plan for Texas to build its own power plants could cost $7 billion more than expected, The Texas Tribune, 13 April 2023, The plants would be activated during emergencies. Lawmakers haven’t decided whether to pay for them through state funds or higher charges to electricity customers.










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