The forecast of exceptionally cold weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth region led the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to declare a weather alert for January 15-17, 2024.
ERCOT describes the weather watch as a notification issued 3–5 days in advance, indicating anticipated significant weather conditions that may lead to increased electrical demand and a potential decrease in reserves.
Local Profile reported two cold fronts are expected to reach North Texas in the upcoming week, with the first one arriving on Friday and the second, an Arctic blast, expected on Sunday. The second front is anticipated to bring temperatures significantly below freezing for an extended period. In North Texas, a wind advisory was in effect until 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 9, with gusts of winds reaching up to 45 and 50 mph.
ERCOT will continue to monitor conditions and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid, continuing a reliability-first approach to operations.
As Local Profile previously reported ERCOT recently announced that the council canceled its power reserve program, aimed at boosting reserves for 600,000 homes. The program was canceled due to electric companies' unwillingness to reopen their unused plants. It only garnered proposals for power sufficient for only 2,200 households, all originating from companies willing to reduce electricity consumption in emergencies. Regardless, ERCOT does not believe the lack of reserve will cause any issues.
A risk assessment report released by ERCOT in November 2023 forecasted a 20% likelihood of the grid experiencing emergency conditions this winter, along with a 17% probability of encountering rolling blackouts.
The council encourages everyone to sign up for grid condition notifications through the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS). Texans can also monitor real-time and extended grid conditions at ercot.com.
Anticipating the significant drop in temperatures in the upcoming days, The Salvation Army of North Texas initiated its comprehensive inclement weather services to ensure the safety and warmth of vulnerable individuals.
The following locations are preparing to activate overnight warming shelters:
- Dallas County: the Carr P. Collins Social Service Center and Garland Corps Community Center
- Collin County: the Plano Corps Community Center and McKinney Corps Community Center
- Tarrant County: the Arlington Corps Community Center