Feds: Greatest Risk for Summer Power Grid Problems Is in Texas

[TexasTowelie]

It's that time of year again, when the feds single out Texas' precariously thin power reserves. Even California -- a state not known for electrical reliability -- is projected to experience fewer problems with its power grid as the summer heat drives residents to their thermostats.

A reserve margin is the buffer between the available supply of electricity and peak demand. Certain targets are established to account for things like heat waves and unexpected power plant outages. Texas' margin is slightly anemic. "The reserve margin estimates exceed the target in every region, except in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region (ERCOT), which is most of Texas," the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its assessment Thursday.

This map shows just what an outlier Texas is when it comes to having surplus juice.

This appraisal of the Texas is much less optimistic than ERCOT's own. The grid operator isn't predicting blazing summer temperatures, though it has said it may ask Texans to turn their thermostats up a few degrees during the dog days.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/06/feds_greatest_risk_for_summer.php .

[mbperrin]

1. The industry's first job is to convince you there's a shortage, so that

rates can be raised, when in reality, 25% of the wind generators in Texas are just coming online now as we complete three big new infrastructure high line projects.

After they convince you there's a shortage, they can also get take or pay procedures put in, where they get money for not providing electricity.

No, thanks.