The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region continues to experience sustained heat and record-setting load. Consumers and businesses are urged to reduce their electricity during peak hours.

“High temperatures have resulted in record electricity demand over the last few days and may result in a new record today,” said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness. “Consumers can help lower energy consumption by taking some simple actions between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m.”

Steps to help reduce electricity use:

• Turn thermostat up 2 to 3 degrees during the peak hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
• Set programmable thermostats to higher temperatures when no one is home.
• Use fans to feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler.
• Limit use of large appliances (i.e., dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc.) to morning or after 7 p.m.
• If you cook indoors from 3 to 7 p.m., use a microwave or slow cooker.
• Close blinds and drapes during late afternoon. 
• Schedule pool pumps to run in the early morning or overnight hours; shut off between 4 and 6 p.m.

More conservation tips:

www.ercot.com/about/conservation

How to track electricity demand

View daily peak demand forecast, current load and available generation at http://www.ercot.com.

• Follow ERCOT on Twitter (@ERCOT_ISO) and Facebook (Electric Reliability Council of Texas).
• Sign up for the ERCOT mobile app (available for download at the Apple App Store and Google Play).
• Subscribe to the EmergencyAlerts list on http://lists.ercot.com.

Consumer assistance

Public Utility Commission of Texas Hotline – 1-888-782-8477

ERCOT region

The ERCOT region includes the urban load centers of Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin, as well as most of West Texas, portions of the Panhandle and the Rio Grande Valley. It excludes the El Paso area, Northeast Texas (Longview, Marshall and Texarkana) and Southeast Texas (Beaumont, Port Arthur and The Woodlands). An ERCOT region map is available at: http://www.ercot.com/news/mediakit/maps/index.html.