DALLAS — Bundle up, Texas: A winter freeze is heading our way, as an arctic front is expected to hit the state Sunday and plunge temperatures into Monday and Tuesday.
Some parts of Texas could dip into the single digits, and wintry precipitation is a possibility.
When this happens, at least since 2021's big freeze, one thing tends to come top of mind for Texans: How is the state power grid doing?
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the agency responsible for providing electricity across the state, has a few tools to show the current grid conditions, including a live look at Texas' supply and demand, both current and forecasted.
But one area Texans might want to familiarize with is ERCOT's various grid condition levels and notices.
On Wednesday, for example, ERCOT issued a weather watch for Jan. 15-17, when temperatures are expected to fall well below freezing in Texas. A weather watch is the lowest level of advisory ERCOT will send out - meaning, they expect normal grid conditions but ask Texans to monitor grid conditions and the supply-and-demand forecast.
And to reiterate: Despite the freezing weather heading our way, ERCOT is anticipating normal operating conditions for the Texas power grid.
But here's a look at the different levels of grid conditions and notices ERCOT has at its disposal:
ERCOT Weather Watch
Again, this is the lowest level of an advisory ERCOT will send out, as they did on Wednesday ahead of next week's arctic blast. Under weather watch, ERCOT anticipates normal grid conditions but is forecasting for "significant weather," along with higher demand for electricity "and a potential for lower reserves."
The only "action" items ERCOT asks for in this scenario is for Texans to monitor grid conditions. ERCOT also provides a list of energy-saving tips here, and a link to the energy supply-and-demand forecast.
When ERCOT issued the weather watch Wednesday, the agency encouraged people to sign up for notifications on grid conditions through the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS).
Voluntary Conservation Notice
This would be the next grid condition level update issued by ERCOT in which the agency would ask Texans to voluntarily reduce energy usage at certain peak demand hours. A voluntary conservation notice has happened when a higher demand for energy is forecasted and a lower supply of energy is available.
ERCOT would also ask all government agencies to implement plans to reduce energy use.
We last saw a voluntary conservation notice from ERCOT in the summer of 2023, when extreme heat conditions caused a higher demand for energy usage.
Conservation Appeal
This would be the third grid condition level in which ERCOT identifies a "higher demand forecasted with a potential to enter emergency operations due to lower reserves." The conservation appeal would be an "elevated request" by ERCOT for Texans to reduce energy use during a specified period of time.
As with the voluntary conservation notice, ERCOT would also ask government agencies to reduce energy usage.
Energy Emergency Alert (EEA)
An ERCOT Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) would be issued under "system-wide emergency supply and demand conditions."
Within the EEA, there would be levels 1, 2 and 3, based on how low state's energy reserves have fallen.
Under Levels 1 and 2, ERCOT would use various "tools" manage the low reserves. Under Level 3, when reserves drop to "extremely low" levels, controlled outages would be possible.