Texas avoids blackouts after ERCOT issues emergency alert

Texas avoids blackouts after calls for conservation

The Texas power grid came very close to rolling blackouts Wednesday night. And grid conditions are expected to be tight again Thursday because of the extreme heat.

AUSTIN, Texas - Texas came closer to rolling blackouts Wednesday night than it has all summer.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas went into emergency operations around 7:30 p.m.

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The state’s power grid operator said power reserves were dangerously low at that point.

ERCOT went into what it calls Emergency Level 2. That activated more reserve power to stabilize the grid.

If that had not been enough, blackouts would have followed.

The emergency alert was lifted after about an hour.

Electrical capacity is expected to be tight again on Thursday and Friday because of the excessive heat.