Here’s why your electricity can’t be turned off during this North Texas heatwave
Extreme heat conditions are impacting Texans this week as temperatures reach triple digits.
Some of the hottest days on record worldwide were recorded last week. In the United States, 38 million Americans were under some kind of heat alert July 5.
In its seasonal assessment, The Electric Reliability Council of Texas concluded that the grid has enough generation capacity to avoid rolling blackouts between June and September under typical summer weather conditions. However, record-breaking peak electricity demand is anticipated this summer.
When the power grid is incapable of keeping up with demand, rolling blackouts are used as an emergency measure. Texans may be all too familiar with this measure used during the 2021 winter storm.
With places like the Fort Worth area under excessive heat warning Thursday, here’s what to know about rolling blackouts and extreme heat.
What is an excessive heat warning?
Excessive heat warnings are issued by the National Weather Service within 12 hours of extremely dangerous heat conditions.
The warning is issued when the maximum heat index temperature is expected to be 105° or higher for at least two days and night time air temperatures will not drop below 75°.
Serious illness or death could occur if proper precautions are not taken to prevent heat-related illness during this warning, according to the weather service.
What is a heat advisory?
A heat advisory is also serious and requires action.
Heat advisories are issued within 12 hours of extremely dangerous heat conditions. These advisories are issued when the maximum heat index temperature is expected to be 100° or higher for at least two days and night time air temperatures will not drop below 75°.
Are there protections in place against rolling blackouts?
The Public Utility Commission of Texas, which oversees ERCOT, has protections in place for areas impacted by extreme weather.
According to the PUCT’s rules, an electric utility cannot deliberately disconnect a customer anywhere in its service territory during extreme weather.
This rule applies when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for any county in the electric utility’s service territory or when an advisory is issued on any one of the preceding two calendar days.
The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Monday. Highs are expected in the lower to mid 100s with lows in the 80s Monday night.
In extreme cold weather, the rule applies when the previous day’s highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the weather service forecasts temperatures to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours.
