A new report on electricity demand in the U.S. raises questions about whether Texas and California electricity resources will be adequate this summer, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s 2019 Summer Reliability Assessment particularly pinpoints Texas as a trouble spot.
The situation in the Lone Star State could, the report says, require the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to institute emergency measures, including importing additional power, if available, and issuing energy emergency alerts that ask consumers to voluntarily reduce their electricity use.
ERCOT has warned of low reserve margins caused by retirements of some coal-fired electricity plants and delayed openings of some generating facilities. Rates could soar because of the tight market.
California’s risk is because of the possibility of wildfires and disruptions in solar power. That risk is considered lower than what the state faced last year.