NEWS
Texas power demand setting records
According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas the demand for power in the state high record highs two days this week as the heat continues to keep the nation in its sweaty grip.
After hitting 11 peak demand records last summer, ERCOT officials said usage hit a preliminary 81,406 megawatts (MW) on July 13, topping off the record from the day before which was 81,351 MW.
ERCOT staffers expect the record highs will continue through the weekend.
The City of Bowie water plant staff reported a high of 107 degrees on July 13 and 108 on July 14. The previous 100-degree day was on July 6 as the temperatures hover in the 97-98 degree range for the highs.
ERCOT states on its website one megawatt can power around 1,000 U.S. homes on a typical day, but only about 200 homes on a hot summer day in Texas.
The grid has issued a weather watch for July 16-18 due to the heat, higher demand and the potential for lower reserves. There is no expectation of an energy emergency, but conservation is encouraged where possible.
The Arctic air is here! Wind chills will plummet tonight, dipping into the single digits to lower teens for all of North and Central Texas. Make sure to check on neighbors & family, dress in warm layers, bring pets indoors and protect outdoor/exposed pipes.
Montague County will be under a COLD WEATHER ADVISORY from midnight tonight until 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Please take precautions.
Hear Audio Alert:https://hrpow.us/YEWQwEP
Monday a team from Brazos Electric arrived from Tolar, TX hauling with it a 22 Mva portable transformer and related unit that will provide power for the city’s substation while the new 20 Mva transformer is connected to the Bowie grid as well as the present pair of 12.5 Mva units.
Thanks to the soggy ground it was an up and down start as they got stuck, but they were finally able to get the trailer leveled. Nearby another trailer holds the series of connectors that will join that unit to the city’s transmission lines.
On Monday afternoon there were multiple brief power outages due to some issues with switches said City Manager Bert Cunningham, but it was all resolved by late afternoon.
Unfortunately the outages caused major problems for Comcell internet service which went off around 4 p.m. and did not resume until after 9 p.m.
The Saint Jo City Council last week accepted a request from its only full-time police patrol officer to leave active duty to be a reserve and named a new council member to fill a vacancy.
Councilors met on Jan. 8 to start the new year. Earlier in December longtime council member Carla Hennessey submitted her resignation after serving seven years. Michael Dennis was named to fill the position until the term ends in October when it will be on the ballot.
Dennis has served on the Saint Jo school board, as well a previous unexpired term on the council several years ago.
The city lost its full-time patrol officer as she asked to go to being a reserve. The Saint Jo Fire Department also got approval to buy a new pumper truck.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie New.
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