Posted on 06/14/2021 5:34:15 PM PDT by blam
Goldilocks will not be pleased. Texas power prices infamously exploded higher during the frigid temperatures of the February winter storm that crippled so much of the state; and this time, amid blisteringly hot temperatures, Texas power prices are exploding higher once again as The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) asks Texans to reduce electric use as much as possible today through Friday, June 18.
ERCOT issued the following Conservation Alert:
A significant number of forced generation outages combined with potential record electric use for the month of June has resulted in tight grid conditions.
Generator owners have reported approximately 11,000 MW of generation is on forced outage for repairs; of that, approximately 8,000 MW is thermal and the rest is intermittent resources. According to the summer Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy, a typical range of thermal generation outages on hot summer days is around 3,600 MW. One MW typically powers around 200 homes on a summer day.
“We will be conducting a thorough analysis with generation owners to determine why so many units are out of service,” said ERCOT Vice President of Grid Planning and Operations Woody Rickerson. “This is unusual for this early in the summer season.”
According to generation owners, the number of outages should decrease throughout the week.
Wind output for today is expected to be 3,500 to 6,000 MW between 3 and 9 p.m. This is roughly 1,500 MW lower than what is typically available for peak conditions. Wind output is expected to increase as the week goes on.
Today’s peak load forecast may exceed 73,000 MW. The peak demand record for June is 69,123 MW set on June 27, 2018 between 4 and 5 p.m.
Please take these simple actions to help reduce electric use:
◾Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher – every degree of cooling increases your energy use by six to eight percent.
◾Turn off lights and pool pumps and avoid using large appliances like ovens, washing machines and dryers.
◾If you don’t need something – we are asking you to turn it off and unplug it if possible.
This sent power prices spiking with SPGlobal.com reporting that Real-time locational marginal prices across major ERCOT zones topped $1,000/MWh around 1:30 pm CT, and reached almost $2,000/MWh around 2:15 pm CT, the current systemwide cap.
ERCOT spokeswoman Leslie Sopko said during a media call that as of 2:30 pm CT, the total capacity offline in forced outage was 12,178 MW offline, of which 9,066 MW was for thermal resources, while the remainder was for renewable resources. The total offline is three to four times what would typically be on forced outage during summer peak hours.
During that call, Warren Lasher, ERCOT senior director of system planning, said, “it’s unclear why we are seeing so many unplanned outages right now.” Less than 500 MW of the generation on outage is out for long-term maintenance issues, he said.
Some of the lost capacity appears related to derating – meaning generation is producing less than its nameplate capacity due to weather, mechanical, or fuel issues – but Lasher said he had heard of no problems with fuel delivery associated with this event.
Once again “renewables” are just not up to it as wind generation is reportedly playing a notable role in helping to push prices up, with average wind generation for June 15 predicted to tumble 28.8% to 3.5 GWh from about 4.9 GWh forecast for April 14. Despite the lower wind forecast, “wind output is expected to increase as the week goes on,” according to ERCOT.
And given the response from one Texas resident and long-time friend of ZH: “All I know is that I’m heading home and just absolutely cranking up my AC. Fuck ‘em!”
We suspect prices will be going higher given the weather forecast for the rest of the week/.
It gets hot in Texas?
Who knew?
L
I LOVE IT! Let them eat cake. Having a husband in the coal fired power industry for 40 years and setting what the EPA and environmentalists have done to it.... again I live it.
Also at: https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/texas-electricity-prices-explode-power-grid-verge-another-meltdown
I’ve been in Texas for 38 years and we have never had rolling blackouts or any serious problems even when temperatures soent weeks in triple digits.
This problem is 100 percent the result of wind and solar.
I recently took a road trip from the DFW area through the permian basin, through El Paso and into New Mexico and AZ. Seeing wind turbines in Texas go on for miles and miles was disgusting.
This is going to cost Governor Abbot the election.
Sounds to me like ERCOT could use a few thousand megawatts of reliable power, dispersed across the region.
Louisville Gas & Electric/Kentucky Utilities is very much self-sufficient. They have a very adequate supply of their OWN generation and transmission ties to several entities that can supply as needed.
Where are the libs telling them to hook up to unicorn farts in the wind?
I would,think solar could do well for some down there, its a good place for it.
No problem…put up another million solar panels from China and a few more 1000 windmills…c’mon man…
And there you have it.
No-you didn’t read the article. It’s because they took them down for service. I swear-reading comprehension on this site is horrible. This is the same issue back in the winter: outages-and then it was fossils that bore the brunt of the outages (over 3:1) yet people still blamed wind and solar. Now-is that the answer? Nope. Nukes are. But for God’s sake-understand that it’s the energy industry and their lobbyists that have done this.
F the article. Solar and wind CANNOT provide the energy we need. Yes , it can provide some energy. But not all we need, when we need it
This smells like a subtle warning before they throw the switch.
It sure is. He’s been a disaster with regards to the handling of this. Didn’t trump endorse somebody else for Governor of Texas. Might be worth it to get rid of this management fool.
ERCOT needs some of those turbines shoved up their a**.
They don’t want Texas having its own grid IMO.
I bought a new gas/propane generator at the end of hurricane season last year. I got my propane tanks filled last Thursday.
I'm as ready as I'm going to be
I just looked at my Kil-a-Watt meter, running at 121.8 volts, was right at 120.0 mid afternoon. I guess they’re running up the voltage to lower amperage across my end of the grid.
Well done.
deport invaders
As a fellow Freeper I would welcome you to the Lone Star state. But when it comes to Californians in general, I’ve heard it mentioned that the silver lining to the February energy fiasco is that it might discourage Californians from fleeing to Texas.
What battery system did you use? I hear that Tesla’s Powerwall will now only be sold bundled with their solar roof tiles.
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