Rolling blackouts

[Pipeline]

My son lost power in Cop Can for twenty minutes at 8:20 AM. Coserve.

[admin]

http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/loca ... outs-.html

[admin]

FROM ERCOT: Power Emergency – Conservation CRITICAL--Rotating Outages Have Begun

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: http://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.

[admin]

Rolling blackouts over for now but there's a strong possibility they could come back tonight or tomorrow: http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/loca ... outs-.html

[admin]

From CoServ Electric:

Though ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) canceled the Emergency Action Alert on Thursday at 10 a.m., CoServ Electric remains on alert. Grid conditions have improved but conservation is still recommended. If rolling power outages are again required by ERCOT, CoServ Electric will comply by conducting rolling 15-minute outages throughout our service area with a frequency of approximately every two hours. We ask that members continue energy conserving behavior between the hours of 6 and 9 a.m., and during the evening hours of 4 and 8 p.m.

[Common Sense Al]

Ouch... as if the next bill wasn't going to be bad enough. I assume this applies to CoServ as well since they have to buy electricity too.

Electric customers to be charged for blackouts

[admin]

Generation reserves remain tight for summer; ERCOT expects calls for energy conservation

[Uther]

nearly had a heart attack. Thread necrophilia.

[JKTex]

nearly had a heart attack. Thread necrophilia.

Wow, no kidding. I'm reading thinking, it's not that hot, what's causing the crisis? Whew, thermostat back to 65!

[admin]

ERCOT Warns Of Energy Emergencies After This Summer

[Common Sense Al]

ERCOT Warns Of Energy Emergencies After This Summer

They need to re-regulate the market... deregulation has not worked... it's just created a bunch of middle-men and little to no incentive to build new power plants.

[JKTex]

ERCOT Warns Of Energy Emergencies After This Summer

They need to re-regulate the market... deregulation has not worked... it's just created a bunch of middle-men and little to no incentive to build new power plants.

Little more complex than that. What kind of power plants? They wanted to shut down several already and Texas has a ton of coal ready for them. Get the EPA out or get them a new attitude and no political influence. Next, build out the grid so power can be better managed. What good to wind farms do if the power sits there?

[Common Sense Al]

Little more complex than that. What kind of power plants? They wanted to shut down several already and Texas has a ton of coal ready for them. Get the EPA out or get them a new attitude and no political influence. Next, build out the grid so power can be better managed. What good to wind farms do if the power sits there?

I think a big part of the problem is that there is little incentive for major infrastructure improvements, especially power plants. As for what kind, well, whatever is modern, efficient, and clean these days I would assume. I don't think coal can be made "clean" but I suppose there's always a possibility that technology can make it clean enough.

I think blaming the EPA is a scapegoat. If I recall from some articles, they gave them plenty of time to plan ahead and address the "dirty" power plants, but they did little to nothing for years... and now when there's little or no time left, they complain and blame the EPA.

[JKTex]

I agree, "clean coal" really" But yes, cleanER.

I don't know all the issues, but building new plants is an issue (like refineries) and you can't just take a plant down to rebuild it, without replacing the power. And there are issues with getting whatever they're called, transmission lines so wind farms can actually be worthwhile.

It's all a bureaucratic and political mess.

[Pipeline]

Passed a 150 car long train, filled with coal, coming back down 377, yesterday from Keller, train heading South. "dirty" coal ain't gone yet. Keep that power coming baby. Gotta go, I feel a sulfur dioxide sneeze coming on.