Last week, Reuters reported that ERCOT (the Electric Reliability Council of Texas) “approved about $57 million in transmission improvements to increase capacity in West Texas.” The demand for business electricity is on the rise in West Texas, due largely to activity in the oil and natural gas industries. While growth is good, ERCOT and the PUC (Public Utility Commission) have voiced concerns several times over the last few months that Texas’ current growth spurt could push our demand for commercial electricity past our capacity to produce it. If that happens, there’s a good chance Texans will experience rolling blackouts during peak times.
Of particular concern are the next few summers. A heat wave like the one we experienced in 2011 could easily push the grid beyond capacity.
On the upside, we were fortunate this year. Residential and commercial electricity demand were lower this summer than a year ago. As a result, “the grid experienced no energy emergency alerts and only one control room watch during the summer of 2012.”
In truth, no one knows what the next few summers will be like in Texas. It’s difficult to forecast the weather so far in advance. What we do know is that the demand for business electricity is growing rapidly in Texas. Both ERCOT and the PUC are actively pursuing strategies to insure the grid’s stability, and they have their work cut out for them. Texas needs more power plants, more production, to keep up with the increasing demand.
As a business owner, this is a key time to develop a commercial electricity strategy if you don’t already have one. There could easily be some big changes in the coming years. What a shame it would be to wait for those changes to impact your energy cost rather than proactively taking action now to lock in a low rate for the next 3-5 years.
Here at Live Energy, we’ve developed a reputation over the course of the last decade for working with businesses of all sizes. Our goal is simple: to help you find the business electricity strategy that will work best for your company. Whatever your goals, we can help. Are you interested in trimming costs? Does your organization make an effort to utilize renewable energy options? Do you have growth plans in the next several years? Our team of experts has the experience and technology to provide you with the very best analysis.
Not only that, but our strategies for saving our clients both time and money have been proven effective time and again. There is no need for you to take on the monumental task of following the electricity market on your own. We can do that for you, providing you with concise, understandable consultation. No insider language. No confusing industry terms. Just plain talk that will help you select the rate, provider and contract that best meets your needs.
We invite you to discover what literally hundreds of business owners have already experienced. Give us a call at 888-341-9155 to find out how our team can help you. We are Live Energy, and we’d like to be your energy experts.
