ERCOT Reports Rising Electricity Demand to Tighten Texas Power Reserve

By Shay Ohrel
on May 29, 2012 9:27 am

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a report last week stating that the growing demand for electricity during the peak times of the year is outstripping new supplies.  Texas tries to maintain a 13.75% reserve of available power to account for unplanned power plant outages and extreme weather, yet by 2014 ERCOT will only be able to maintain a 9.8% reserve.  By 2015 the projected reserve drops to 6.95% , and by 2022 demand is forecasted to exceed generation capacity.

“There are not enough projects entering the queue to meet the expected load growth of the region,” states ERCOT director of system planning, Warren Lasher.  The May Capacity, Demand, and Reserves report forecasts a more favorable situation when compared to the December report as a result of more wind coming online, previously mothballed power generation being reopened, and existing coal plants scheduled to shut down will keep running. While another 3,657 MW of gas fired plants and 2,000 MW of wind are scheduled to come on-line in the next four years, voluntary conservation and more generation is needed.