Utility providers in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) service area are required to provide periodic updates regarding procedures for load shedding events and critical load.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. ERCOT is responsible for ensuring that the supply of electricity is sufficient to meet consumer demand (load) for electricity in most of the state.
Why are rotating outages/load shedding events necessary?
When electric supply provided by all available power generation plants, (thermal and renewable generation resources) and other sources becomes insufficient to meet the demand, ERCOT begins emergency operations. During an ERCOT energy emergency when electric supply cannot meet consumer demand for electricity and all other operational tools have been exhausted, the demand for electricity must be reduced to avoid uncontrolled blackouts. As a last resort, ERCOT will instruct electric utilities to implement controlled customer outages to reduce the demand for electricity on the ERCOT grid. This is referred to as “load shed” and will last until the power emergency is resolved by ERCOT.
Typically, before calling for controlled customer outages, ERCOT takes steps to reduce the demand on the electric grid by asking all types of consumers to reduce electric usage. Electric utilities, including Rio Grande Electric Cooperative (RGEC), via RGEC’s ERCOT Transmission Operator, Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corporation (LCRA TSC), are obligated to immediately implement load shed procedures when ERCOT instructs. Failure to properly implement load shedding procedures could result in the failure of the Texas power grid.
During customer load shed events:
- All members should assume their power could go out without advanced warning. Efforts will be made, as much as possible, to provide advanced notification of pending outages, but circumstances do not always allow that to happen.
- Members designated as Critical Load, in accordance with Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) guidelines, are not guaranteed an uninterrupted supply of electricity. It is the responsibility of the member to make necessary arrangements for alternative sources of electric power should a localized outage or ERCOT-directed load shed event occur.
- Residential members dependent on electric-powered medical equipment, such as those designated as Critical Care through RGEC’s Critical Care member list, does not guarantee an uninterrupted, regular or continuous power supply. We encourage members on the RGEC Critical Care list to develop an emergency plan, in the event they lose electricity. Critical Care members are required to submit a new form at least biennially, or as medical conditions change.
- The procedure for a member to apply to be considered a Critical Care residential account, a Critical Load industrial account, or Critical Load according to commission rules, can be found on the RGEC website at: www.riogrande.coop/my-account/manage-your-account/
- RGEC will prioritize continuity of service for certain accounts whose service is critical to the community during an emergency or those whose service provides major support to the integrity of the electric system during an emergency. Examples include hospitals and certain public safety accounts.
- Because a load shed event is an emergency order from ERCOT based on a shortfall of electricity being generated, RGEC / LCRA TSC, may not have the information to be able to notify individual members if they may lose power, when they may lose power or how long the load shed event may last.
- In extreme power emergencies, ERCOT may require electric utilities to shed large amounts of load over long periods of time. In these instances, electric utilities like RGEC / LCRA TSC may not have the ability to rotate outages without risking the stability of the entire electric grid. When this happens, some members may be without power for an extended period of time. These outages are critical for ensuring the integrity of the State’s electric grid and preventing a system-wide blackout, which could be long-lasting and have a significant impact on all aspects of life.
- RGEC, like all electric utilities in ERCOT, is required to continue to comply with ERCOT controlled customer outage instructions until ERCOT ends the energy emergency.
- TIPS: The PUCT website at www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/facts/Save.aspx provides examples for members to reduce electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented.
Regardless of the nature of the load shedding event, Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc., and the Cooperative’s ERCOT Transmission Operator (LCRA TSC) are committed to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to its members 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week. While we may not control the issues or conditions that have required ERCOT’s order to shed load, we will do everything in our power to restore electricity when we are able to safely do so. In addition, we will work to keep our members informed about the situation through local media outlets, social media, and direct communications to you.