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(AUSTIN, Texas) — The Texas power grid’s operator has asked consumers to use less energy as clouds threaten access to essential solar power.
The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas asked residents and business to voluntarily conserve energy for the second time in three days amid a continuing heat wave.
Following Monday’s conservation appeal, Wednesday’s notice similarly calls for conservation from 2 to 9 p.m., during which residents are encouraged to raise their thermostats to 78 degrees and postpone using major appliances such as dishwashers or dryers.
Unlike Monday’s appeal, ERCOT included forced thermal outages and solar as major factors in reducing grid supply on Wednesday.
According to a spokesperson for ERCOT, developing cloud cover in West Texas has reduced the amount of solar generation.
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