There was some good news overnight. Around 1 a.m., ERCOT released enough energy to Medina EC and we were able to sustain power to members. There are still a few members with weather-related and other isolated outages and crews continue to work on restoring power to these members.
ERCOT has not sent a release officially canceling the Energy Emergency Alert event and today another winter blast is expected so forced outages may resume at some point today. Medina EC is committed to serving you, and we are hopeful there will be enough generation to meet the electric consumption needs of our members and consumers across the state.
At any moment the situation can change; we have seen that happen multiple times in the last few days. We know it is frustrating that we cannot say if forced outages will begin again or when because of constant changes on the grid. Should forced outages resume, we will let members know as soon as humanly possible. We still will be unable give people exact times they will be without power or exact times they will have power.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as able. Please know that our staff is working nonstop and our top priority is our members. We recognize the hardships created for you over the last few days and ask that you continue to bear with us if the situation changes.
Please continue to follow our website for updates.
OUTAGE REPORTING
Outages can be reported by calling 1-866-632-3532 or using the SmartHub app or at MedinaEC.org.
If you are currently without power, please report it as it could be an isolated outage.
Should forced outages resume, our system could again be overwhelmed with calls, online traffic to our website and SmartHub app. You may experience delays, dropped calls or errors in SmartHub. If you report an outage and learn you are part of a forced outage, please wait a few hours to re-report.
To see the latest outage numbers and track progress, visit our outage map.
Please Continue To Conserve
Since ERCOT has not officially cancelled forced outages, conservation is still critical. Keep heaters set at 68 or a few degrees lower if you are able and avoid using large appliances.
Concerns Over Rates
Members may see news stories showing extreme pricing at this time, and some have asked if this will impact their Medina EC rates. Fortunately, to this point, Medina EC has not been exposed to volatile market prices you are seeing in the media thanks to our wholesale power supplier. The stories you are seeing are for utilities who make real-time purchases. Other factors could impact pricing, but it is too early to tell.
Why is ERCOT Mandating Outages
ERCOT, in their role to keep the grid reliable, cannot let the demand for electricity be greater than the supply of power available. If that was to happen, the state would experience a statewide blackout. It could damage the grid to the point of a rebuild. To prevent that from happening, ERCOT issued these mandated outages. All utilities in the state have to comply.