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The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) seems to be a term that we have been hearing a lot lately. ERCOT has been under national scrutiny since the February winter storm outages that left millions in the dark. If you remember, we were just 'minutes' from the grid failing entirely. What happens when the extreme cold turns to extreme heat? I guess we are about to find out.

Monday afternoon data from ERCOT indicates forecasted demand may exceed capacity during peak heat hours in the afternoon, and it’s not expected to change much during the week with temperatures close to 100 degrees.  However, it gets this hot every Summer in South Texas. For the record, I really don't remember ERCOT warnings in previous Summers. ERCOT has even given us recommendations to help us conserve energy.

As reported by KXAN, ERCOT is asking people to do the following to help reduce demand:

  • Set thermostats to 78° or higher
  • Turn off lights and pool pumps
  • Avoid using large appliances (washers, dryers, ovens)
  • “If you don’t need something – we are asking you to turn it off and unplug it if possible,” ERCOT said.

Just in case you didn't know the universal guideline for a normal summer thermostat setting is 78° F. However, this condition should be set for when you're at home during the daytime. I don't think the thermostat has ever been set in 78 in my house.

What is the normal setting for the thermostat in your home? Do you and your spouse agree? Who controls the temp? Answer in the Facebook comments of this article.

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