Feb. 2, 2011, Austin -- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas
(ERCOT) has instructed utilities to begin rotating outages to compensate
for a generation shortage due to numerous plant trips that occurred
because of the extreme weather.
Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electric
service, typically lasting 10-45 minutes per neighborhood. The locations
and durations are determined by the local utilities. Critical need
customers such as hospitals and nursing homes are generally not included.
It is not known at this time how long the need for rotating outages will
last.
Consumers and businesses are urged to reduce their electricity use to the
lowest level possible, including these steps:
* Limit electricity usage to only that consumption which is
absolutely necessary. Turn off all unnecessary lights, appliances, and
electronic equipment.
* Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and
electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.
* Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or
reducing non-essential production processes.
See more conservation tips at "Powerful Advice," Public Utility Commission
of Texas:
www.puc.state.tx.us./ocp/conserve
BACKGROUND
A Power Emergency indicates that the regional electric grid operator, the
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), has instructed utilities to
implement rotating outages to reduce load.
Rotating outages are controlled, temporary interruptions of electrical
service initiated by each utility when supplies of reserve power are
exhausted. Without this safety valve, generators would overload and begin
shutting down to avoid damage, risking a domino effect of a region-wide
outage.
Rotating outages primarily affect residential neighborhoods and small
businesses and do not typically include critical-need customers such as
hospitals and nursing homes.
The outages are limited to 10-45 minutes before being rotated to a
different neighborhood. Some customers may experience longer outages if
power surges cause equipment failure during the restoration process.
Customers can minimize power surges by turning off appliances, lights and
other equipment, except for one task light to determine when power has
been restored.
ERCOT REGION
The ERCOT Region includes Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio,
Austin, Corpus Christi, Abilene and the Rio Grande Valley. It does not
include the El Paso area, the Texas Panhandle, Northeast Texas (Longview,
Marshall and Texarkana), and Southeast Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur, and
the Woodlands). Region map:
http://www.ercot.com/news/mediakit/maps/index.html
HELPFUL CONTACTS
For Utility Information
Check your electric bill to identify your utility company or transmission
provider.
Investor-Owned Utilities (Transmission & Distribution) American Electric
Power
877-373-4858
CenterPoint Energy
800-752-8036
Oncor
888-313-4747
Sharyland Utilities
956-668-9551
Texas-New Mexico Power
Outside ERCOT
Entergy-Texas
800-968-8243
Community-Owned Electric Utilities
Texas Public Power Association, http://www.tppa.com/
Utility Directories
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/electric/directories/index.cfm
Electric Industry Links
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/electric/links.cfm
ERCOT Market Participants
http://www.ercot.com/mktparticipants/index.html
Conservation Tips
http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/conserve/index.cfm
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
manages the flow of electric power to approximately 22 million Texas
customers - representing 85 percent of the state's electric load and 75
percent of the Texas land area. As the Independent System Operator for
the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects 40,000
miles of transmission lines and more than 550 generation units.
ERCOT also manages financial settlement for the competitive wholesale
bulk-power market and administers customer switching for 6.5 million
Texans in competitive choice areas.
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