Energy expert weighs in on concerns about ERCOT power grid this summer

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As another hot Texas summer ramps up, the state’s power grid operators are raising concerns about grid reliability and the prospect of rolling blackouts.

Earlier this week, a Texas House committee heard testimony from energy leaders about growth forecasts, the summer outlook and market design initiatives.

University of Texas at Austin Professor Emeritus Ross Baldick works in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and researches electric power. He joined KXAN to break down ERCOT's predictions for this summer.

One of those predictions is that ERCOT expects a 16% chance of emergency power conditions in August during the end of sundown hours — when the grid is most stressed. That time period is typically from 8 to 9 p.m.

Baldick called it "potentially quite serious."

"Summer, generally speaking, has been a time where electricity demands are high, but ERCOT generators have come to the party and been able to meet the demand. So I think this is potentially a serious situation," Baldick said.

However, Baldick added this could be fixed in the next couple of years due to increased announcements of new generating facilities being built in the state.

"So I think on the one hand it's quite serious, but on the other hand, it may be just for this year, at least, and the remedy next year and the following year, assuming we can keep up with the growth and demand, which is pretty rapid in Texas and ERCOT," Baldick said.

You can watch the full interview with Baldick in the video player above.

Monica Madden contributed to this report.