(NEWSnet) - The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has issued its second power “conservation call” of the week for Tuesday morning, and said it might issue another one for Wednesday morning.

Tuesday’s request to conserve power use, “if it is safe to do so,” is in effect for 6 to 9 a.m. local time, and is reflective of winter weather that has been affecting the state.

The council also had issued a conservation call for Monday morning “due to continued freezing temperatures, record-breaking demand and unseasonably low wind.”

 

ERCOT says it manages “the flow of Texas’ power supply,” with its service area including 90% of the state of Texas or more than 26 million customers. The live data on its website includes supply and demand forecasts.

Specifically, agency said in a press release that its peak demand times in the winter are normally in the morning hours. Solar power, which is part of its energy mix, is at a low during early morning and the wind power has been lower than usual this time of year.

At the same time, demand has been high. ERCOT set a January peak record of 70,982 MW from 8 to 9 p.m. local time on Jan. 14. The previous winter peak was set during a winter storm, 7 to 8 a.m. local time Dec. 23, 2022.

A winter weather advisory was in effect Sunday and Monday for the Houston area, the National Weather Service reported. A wind chill advisory, along with a hard freeze warning, is in effect Monday night through early Wednesday morning as temperatures are expected to hover from the low 20s into the mid-30s for that time frame.

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