During load shed events, we are unable to tell you when you will be without power, how long the forced outages will last, or when power will be restored since those answers depend on many factors outside of Central Texas Electric Co-op's control. We will share the most current information we have received from ERCOT.
- Members must be prepared for a possible power outage without advance warning. As much as possible, all efforts will be made to provide advance notification of ERCOT-mandated load shedding, but there can be circumstances where such a notification isn’t possible.
- Members designated as critical load are not guaranteed an uninterrupted supply of electricity. It is the member's responsibility to arrange for alternative electric power sources in the event of any outage, including ERCOT load-shedding events.
- Members who depend on electric-powered medical equipment or those designated as critical care or chronic condition with CTEC are not guaranteed an uninterrupted, regular or continuous power supply. It is the member’s responsibility to arrange for alternative electric power sources in the event of any outage, including ERCOT load-shedding events.
- Load shedding is a mandatory emergency order from ERCOT based on the available generation and consumer demand. During load-shedding events, CTEC’s ERCOT transmission operator, the Lower Colorado River Authority Transmission Services Corp., is obligated to immediately implement load-shedding procedures. CTEC likely will not have sufficient information to notify members if or when they may lose power or how long the load-shedding event may last.
- In an extreme emergency, ERCOT may require electric utilities to shed large amounts of load over long periods of time. These outages are critical for ensuring the integrity of the state’s electric grid and preventing an uncontrolled system-wide blackout, which could last significantly longer than a load-shedding event.
- CTEC, like all electric utilities in ERCOT’s service area, is required to comply with all ERCOT directions for shedding load until ERCOT ends the energy emergency.