Dive Brief:
- Freezing weather and ice storms hit Texas in early December, disrupting service to about 200,000 homes and businesses, and setting monthly demand records on consecutive days.
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said that load on December 6 hit 51,484 MW, breaking a record from December 2011. Another record was set the next day at 52,279 MW. Demand may not moderate until January, when temperatures are set to rise.
- That’s three new records for the year, with ERCOT noting that power demand is rising faster than new power plants can be built.
Dive Insight:
Texas has one of the narrowest electricity reserve margins in the nation and has come close to experiencing rolling blackouts. But suggestions to create a capacity market are controversial. Industries and a coalition of Texas cities oppose it because of added costs to consumers.