topic Re: Texas Power Grid in Community Chat

Texas Power Grid

granddi — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:28:30 GMT

On Monday Texas's Independent Power Grid came within 0.61% of its capacity. The 10 day forecast shows no break in the heat. Rangers stadium increased inside temp from 72 to 75. I'm setting in my house with every fan on plus the AC, few lights only window lighting. It's getting critical here.

ERCOT (power company) said "we just didn't know it was going to be this bad!"

Re: Texas Power Grid

On It — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:35:50 GMT

I am in West Texas and living in fear we will lose power. My husband is having health issues. Loss of A/C could be very difficult for him. We are old and frightened of the consequences of no power in this horrendous heat wave.

I am using nothing but the A/C. We are leaving lights off, preparing a quick, simple meal and using as little power as possible. I am just glad that the schools are not fully operational.

Re: Texas Power Grid

SharkE — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:36:38 GMT

I thought they fixed that after what happened last yr.

Re: Texas Power Grid

SilleeMee — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:37:55 GMT

I have a close friend who lives in a very rural area just outside of Abilene and she tells me all the time about how hot it's been there. She also says that her power goes out during extreme conditions. Now she's considering getting solar panels put on her house. I told her that would be a great idea especially when her electrical power fails. She's looking into government-assistance programs for residential solar systems. I understand that some are free. She cannot afford a whole-house generator, like Generac, so solar would be the way to go for her.

Re: Texas Power Grid

mspatmac — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:42:50 GMT

I have my ac at 80 with floor fan going. No laundry, dishwasher or lights. Don't move around much because I would have to lower ac setting. Fortunately the back of the house only gets the early morning sun so the family room is OK. Of course no big meals so I'm OK as long as the power holds. I'm wondering if they will have to go to rolling black outs.?

Re: Texas Power Grid

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 14:46:01 GMT

Texas needs to get a handle on this and fix their power grid issue. It's happened before so this can't be a surprise to those in positions of responsibility. They need to redirect some of their efforts and get this fixed.

Re: Texas Power Grid

Patriot3 — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:00:54 GMT

@mspatmac wrote:
I have my ac at 80 with floor fan going. No laundry, dishwasher or lights. Don't move around much because I would have to lower ac setting. Fortunately the back of the house only gets the early morning sun so the family room is OK. Of course no big meals so I'm OK as long as the power holds. I'm wondering if they will have to go to rolling black outs.?

@mspatmac I'm with you there. I'm not in TX, but am trying to save as much as I can. Don't turn on lights unless absolutely necessary and keep AC at 79-80. As long as I'm comfortable, why not?

Re: Texas Power Grid

MamaWick — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:13:47 GMT

Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is a joke. No, they didn't fix things after the 02/2021 fiasco. We are being asked to reduce power usage between noon and 8pm.

Re: Texas Power Grid

ValuSkr — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:19:13 GMT

Hopefully, there are no surprise sky-high utility charges again this year. ERCOT seems to have Texans over a barrel.

Re: Texas Power Grid

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:47:51 GMT

I read that part of the issue is not enough wind for the wind turbines. Seems green energy isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Re: Texas Power Grid

SilleeMee — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:28:59 GMT

I thought Texas was the king of wind-generated power...? What's up with that? Appears to not be enough or it's just not working like it should.

If a wind-generator turbine was allowed on my property I would have one and so would many others. But that's just not gonna happen in my lifetime anyway. I got too many trees with lots of shade to have solar panels.

Re: Texas Power Grid

On It — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:30:29 GMT

The wind has been eerily still. The flags were hanging limp against the flag poles Saturday and Sunday. We could not recall the last time we saw that. It is always windy. Solar should be working with all the intense sun we are having.

Re: Texas Power Grid

ThinkingOutLoud — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:33:11 GMT

via nbc:

According to ERCOT, factors driving the need for this important action by customers to reduce usage:

Record high electric demand. The heat wave that has settled on Texas and much of the central United States is driving increased electric use. Other grid operators are operating under similar conservative operations programs as ERCOT due to the heatwave.

Low wind. While solar power is generally reaching near-full generation capacity, wind generation is currently generating significantly less than what it historically generated in this time period. Current projections show wind generation coming in less than 10 % of its capacity.

Re: Texas Power Grid

JamandBread — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:34:10 GMT

@On It wrote:
The wind has been eerily still. The flags were hanging limp against the flag poles Saturday and Sunday. We could not recall the last time we saw that. It is always windy. Solar should be working with all the intense sun we are having.

Isn't Texas the oil capital of the US? I didn't realize Texas had invested so much in green energy.....

Re: Texas Power Grid

beckyb1012 — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:40:03 GMT

Today is 105 and down to 100 tomorrow with a touch cooler each day after that until back up next week. I have turned mine up but it just too hot here in Texas.

Re: Texas Power Grid

On It — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:41:19 GMT

@JamandBread wrote:
@On It wrote:
The wind has been eerily still. The flags were hanging limp against the flag poles Saturday and Sunday. We could not recall the last time we saw that. It is always windy. Solar should be working with all the intense sun we are having.
Isn't Texas the oil capital of the US? I didn't realize Texas had invested so much in green energy.....

The oil and gas companies are diversifying and now calling themselves energy companies which I think includes green energy. I don't keep up with who is doing what.

Some of the big wind fields that were first built here belonged to other states and the power left. I am not certain where or when Texas companies built wind fields or solar to be used locally.

Re: Texas Power Grid

Sooner — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:45:36 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I thought Texas was the king of wind-generated power...? What's up with that? Appears to not be enough or it's just not working like it should.

If a wind-generator turbine was allowed on my property I would have one and so would many others. But that's just not gonna happen in my lifetime anyway. I got too many trees with lots of shade to have solar panels.

@SilleeMee Lots of issues with wind power. First the wind doesn't always blow, second those things are gigantic and prone to needed repairs, and what do we do with all them when they become obsolete? If you have never seen one, you will be shocked at the size.

Re: Texas Power Grid

SilleeMee — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:48:21 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@SilleeMee wrote:
I thought Texas was the king of wind-generated power...? What's up with that? Appears to not be enough or it's just not working like it should.

If a wind-generator turbine was allowed on my property I would have one and so would many others. But that's just not gonna happen in my lifetime anyway. I got too many trees with lots of shade to have solar panels.
@SilleeMee Lots of issues with wind power. First the wind doesn't always blow, second those things are gigantic and prone to needed repairs, and what do we do with all them when they become obsolete? If you have never seen one, you will be shocked at the size.

@Sooner

They're huge! I know, I've seen the ones here. I would like to have one but not that big! ...and then have someone teach me how to maintain it....LOL! Not too much to ask for is it.

Re: Texas Power Grid

granddi — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:50:43 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
I read that part of the issue is not enough wind for the wind turbines. Seems green energy isn't all that's it's cracked up to be.

Yes , that has been reported that the high pressure system parked over Texas has reduced wind and thus the wind turbines. It is easy to blame the power shortage on wind, but our system is old and outdated. Not enough upgrades have been made to accommodate the increase in population.

I wish stores would reduce power use like residences are doing.

Re: Texas Power Grid

granddi — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 15:52:40 GMT

@JamandBread wrote:
@On It wrote:
The wind has been eerily still. The flags were hanging limp against the flag poles Saturday and Sunday. We could not recall the last time we saw that. It is always windy. Solar should be working with all the intense sun we are having.
Isn't Texas the oil capital of the US? I didn't realize Texas had invested so much in green energy.....

Most of the "imvestors" are private companies.