ERCOT has extended the weather watch for this weekend to include Sunday, as the frigid temperatures are now expected to arrive earlier than forecasted.
According to ERCOT, the watch is now issued for January 14-17 due to extreme cold weather expected to move across the ERCOT region meaning higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves. Though grid conditions are expected to be normal, ERCOT urges customers to continue to monitor and no action is expected at this time.
With next week's weather forecast showing temperatures falling into the deep freeze, many people in Texas are having flashbacks to 2021 when North Texas temperatures fell below the freezing mark and the state's power grid failed miserably.
So the logical question is, will ERCOT be ready?
Despite bad memories of 2021's big freeze, Texas Energy and Power Newsletter publisher Doug Lewin says things are going to be different this time around.
First off, ERCOT has made strides in fixing some of the problems from 2021. And, next week's forecast calls for cold temperatures but there's no snow or ice in sight, meaning maintenance crews will have free access to some of the main components of the power grid like gas well heads or wind turbines even if they do fail.
As a precaution, ERCOT has issued a Weather Watch due to forecasted extreme cold weather. The watch is issued due to expected high demand and the potential for lower reserves.
But Levin sees that as more of a precaution than a warning of real danger.