What a Conservation Alert means

When ERCOT projects that electricity demand will come within ~10% of available supply, they issue a Conservation Appeal. It's a voluntary ask — no fine if you ignore it, no credit if you comply. But collectively, small actions across millions of households can shave 2-5% off peak demand, which is often the difference between "tight grid" and "rolling blackouts."

If conservation isn't enough, ERCOT escalates: Energy Emergency Alert Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3. Level 3 triggers firm load shed — rolling blackouts, coordinated with TDUs. This is what happened in February 2021.

When Conservation Alerts usually fire

  • Summer afternoons, 3-7 PM — peak AC demand overlaps with declining solar output. This is the most common trigger.
  • Winter cold snaps, 6-9 AM — heating demand spikes while solar is still low.
  • Spring evenings during wind lulls — less common, but happens when wind output is weak and demand is still elevated.

What actually helps (by impact)

Highest impact

  • Set AC to 78°F (summer) or heat to 68°F (winter). Each degree is roughly 3% of AC usage.
  • Don't run the clothes dryer, oven, or dishwasher during peak hours. A single dryer cycle is 3-5 kWh of concentrated peak load.
  • Turn off pool pumps until off-peak.

Medium impact

  • Close blinds on sun-facing windows in summer.
  • Unplug anything you're not using (TVs, gaming consoles, chargers — standby power adds up).
  • Raise water heater set point only if you'll actually use it; don't run during peak.

Low impact

  • Turning off lights. LEDs are so efficient that lighting is usually a small share of household load. Still helps, but don't expect it to move the needle much.

Does this affect your bill?

Indirectly. Conservation alerts reduce the chance ERCOT wholesale prices spike, which reduces pressure on retail rates over time. On most residential plans you won't see an immediate billing effect — your rate is fixed or only changes monthly. But the alerts are a leading indicator that wholesale prices are elevated, which usually translates into higher retail pricing when your contract renews.

Medical and critical needs

If someone in your household depends on electric medical equipment (CPAP, home dialysis, oxygen concentrator), register with your TDU as a Critical Care Residential Customer. This gives you priority consideration during load shed events — though it doesn't guarantee uninterrupted power. A battery backup is still recommended.