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ERCOT Asks for Power Conservation Ahead of Cold Front

ERCOT urges Texans to cut back on electricity tonight and tomorrow morning during the peak times.
Image Courtesy Cath in Dorset http://www.flickr.com/photos/cathwalker-hillygroundphotography/
ERCOT urges Texans to cut back on electricity tonight and tomorrow morning during the peak times.

Freezing weather is returning tonight and tomorrow morning. ERCOT, the agency that runs the state's power grid, is asking consumers to cut back on electricity usage, to avoid another round of rolling blackouts. Officials say the peak times for usage are 6:00-9:00 am and 4:00-8:00 pm, and that's when they need the help most.

Trip Doggett, ERCOT's CEO, says they will, "procure additional generation capacity for real-time operations to help maintain reliable deliveryof power during this extreme weather event over the next few days."

Thousands of Texans lost power sporadically last Wednesday, when ERCOT was unable to supply enough electicity to meet the state's needs.  The rolling blackouts have stirred comments from consumers and lawmakers, who want to know how dozens of power plants failed when a cold front swept through the state last week.

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