Texas PUC: “Our Risk Goes up as the Sun Goes Down”

AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Texas Public Utility Commission updated Texans on the power supply headed into the summer months during a briefing on Wednesday.

There was overall confidence from Texas regulators.

“We’ve made the grid we’ve got as strong as possible using every tool we have available,” said PUC Chairman Peter Lake.

But, Lake said demand is at record levels because of continued population growth in Texas. Because of that, there’s a shortage in dispatchable energy, causing the grid to rely on thigs like wind and solar during extreme conditions.

“Our risk goes up as the sun goes down,” Lake said.

While it’s not necessarily expected, the issue could lead to possible brownouts during excessive heat.