ERCOT is asking Texans to save energy Saturday afternoon and evening to help the state's power grid. It's the third straight day Texas' power grid operator has asked people to conserve energy.
Many utilities offer bill discounts if you install a thermostat they can control during peak events. Some even will install radio-contolled switches on water heaters. Electric utilities have a VERY strong incentive to try and shave peak load during high-demand events.
Source: I worked for an electric utility. We even took our buildings off the grid and ran on generator during peak-load events. It was cheaper to burn diesel then contribute to the load.
Many utilities offer bill discounts if you install a thermostat they can control during peak events. Some even will install radio-contolled switches on water heaters. Electric utilities have a VERY strong incentive to try and shave peak load during high-demand events.
Source: I worked for an electric utility. We even took our buildings off the grid and ran on generator during peak-load events. It was cheaper to burn diesel then contribute to the load.