Texas power grid operator ERCOT on Tuesday asked customers to voluntarily cut electricity use between 4-8 pm CT as a blistering heat wave scorches the South.
Temperatures have soared to 115+ degrees with the heat index in parts of Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
“ERCOT has issued a Voluntary Conservation Notice for today from 4–8 p.m. due to extreme heat & forecasted record demand. Texans are asked to voluntarily reduce electric use, if safe to do so. ERCOT is not in emergency operations.” the power grid operator said on Tuesday.
#TXANS Update—6/20/2023: ERCOT has issued a Voluntary Conservation Notice for today from 4–8 p.m. due to extreme heat & forecasted record demand. Texans are asked to voluntarily reduce electric use, if safe to do so. ERCOT is not in emergency operations. https://t.co/SZ8ZOry02C pic.twitter.com/7Mg2NCw9K3
— ERCOT (@ERCOT_ISO) June 20, 2023
ERCOT asked customers to take the following steps to cut electricity use:
- Raise thermostats by a degree or two
- Avoid using large appliances i.e., washer/dryer etc
- Turn off and unplug non-essential lights and appliances
- Set pool pumps to run early morning or overnight; shut off during peak hours
- Commercial Businesses: Turn off any lights an office equipment when space not in use
- Commercial Businesses: Turn off air-conditioning outside of business hours
