The Texas energy grid faced its first high-heat litmus test of the year this month as warming April temperatures placed an early strain on utilities. Earlier this month, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas ERCOT had to postpone scheduled maintenance to “to help alleviate potential tight conditions” in order to keep up with energy demand as more residents turned on their air conditioning units.
AC units across the state will be pushed to their limits – and so will the grid. The result of all these energy consumption factors is that the Texas energy grid could be in serious trouble this year. A spring crunch is a particularly worrying omen, and many experts are concerned that it may be the canary in the coal mine for a difficult and energy-insecure summer. And it certainly doesn’t help that critical springtime maintenance was curtailed.