The state grid operator issued a “weather watch” for Feb. 19-21, indicating high electric demand and potentially lower power reserves as Texans brace for the third cold snap of 2025. Grid conditions are expected to be normal during the watch period, according to a news release.
The weather watch does not indicate an emergency and is not a call for conservation, ERCOT said.
The details
The Dallas-Fort Worth area will be under an extreme cold warning from 9 p.m. Feb. 18 until 9 a.m. Feb. 20, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will drop to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit late Feb. 19, forecasts show, with wind chill as low as -8 degrees throughout the region.
Temperatures could dip into the 20s in Central Texas, according to the NWS, while they will hover around 32 degrees Fahrenheit in Houston.
The Texas grid held up during two freezes this January, which state leaders attribute to recent efforts to harden generation facilities and expand power capacity.
After Winter Storm Uri blanketed communities with snow in February 2021, state lawmakers passed legislation requiring energy providers to “weatherize” their power generation and transmission facilities to withstand extremely hot or cold temperatures. Additionally, more than 10,000 megawatts of generation capacity have been added to the power grid since March.
“We want to repeat that again this [legislative] session to make sure that we are able to attract another 10,000 megawatts of additional power,” Gov. Greg Abbott told Community Impact Feb. 7.
More information
There will be plenty of power available to meet demand throughout the week, according to ERCOT’s supply and demand forecast, which is updated periodically. Electric demand is expected to hit a peak of 78,543 megawatts at 8 a.m. Feb. 20, with over 90,000 megawatts of supply available.
During cold periods, demand for electricity typically spikes when people get up in the morning and return home in the evening. Less solar and wind power are available during these “higher-risk” periods, which can cause tight grid conditions, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said Dec. 3.
When demand is high, and wind and solar capacity are low, ERCOT may direct large industrial customers to reduce their power consumption. If that does not do enough to keep the grid balanced, officials may then ask Texans to voluntarily reduce their energy use for a few hours.
The last time ERCOT asked residents to conserve electricity was during a January 2024 freeze, according to agency records.
One more thing
For information about weather conditions, warming shelters and more during the cold snap, visit www.communityimpact.com or subscribe to local newsletters.
Residents can sign up for notifications about the power grid at www.ercot.com/txans and register for ERCOT’s emergency alerts here.
