ERCOT has declared a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has started rolling blackouts as a result of increased demand. According to Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, temperatures across Texas have not dropped this low since 1989.
DFW Airport hit a low of six degrees Monday morning.
At 1:25 a.m. Monday, ERCOT started rolling black-outs across the state, cutting power to up to two million homes at a time. Each outage was scheduled to last 15 to 45 minutes.
"We've worked with ERCOT, with the Railroad Commission and with all market participants to be proactive in trying to find solutions," says Texas Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker.
But Walker says PUC and ERCOT have no additional generation they can add to the system.
"Therefore, it comes from conservation and demand management. That's where we need your help," she says.
ERCOT has urged people to set their thermostats no higher than 68 degrees, unplug unneeded lights and appliances and avoid using large appliances like ovens and washing machines.
"Every grid operator and every electric company is fighting to restore power right now," ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness wrote in a statement.
ERCOT says rolling blackouts will continue through Monday morning and "could be initiated until this weather emergency ends."
