August is a transitional time of year that is still very much summer with its long sunny days and family vacations but also has many of us looking forward to a change of season or back-to-school routines. August is also a time of year that is fairly predictable in terms of weather and consumer behavior.
It comes as no surprise that Texas summers are hot. The summer season technically spans from June to September; of course, temperatures often begin rising in May and have been known to linger on into October. That makes planning for energy demand and usage in the warmer months a routine task for the staff at GVEC. What might come as a surprise is that energy demands in our area tend to be highest in the winter. Winter weather might not be as severe for us as it is for our northern counterparts, but the colder temperatures have a great impact on our overall demand for energy as temperatures drop and homes and businesses react to keep warm.
No matter the weather, GVEC is committed to providing reliable and affordable energy. Since Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and ERCOT have put in place several safeguards to reduce the risk of rotating outages like those experienced during the winter storm. Changes such as weatherization standards and inspections for transmission lines, substations and power generators were implemented over the past few years.
As a transmission services provider in ERCOT, GVEC is subject to these updated standards and inspections as well. Fortunately, many of the new requirements were already standard practice for GVEC. Pricing safeguards were also updated in the ERCOT market so that GVEC members are not subject to the extreme high prices experienced in the past due to high demand and tight generation reserves. Another
plus, Texas leads the nation in energy production and is working toward solutions with an appropriate mix of dispatchable generation to meet the demands of the state.
As for you, one of the best ways you can contribute is by understanding your home’s load—the amount of electricity you use—and taking steps to be as energy efficient as possible. I encourage you to establish smart habits, review your usage in the self-service portal or join one of GVEC’s energy-saving programs, like our newly launched Peak-Time Payback program utilizing Enphase battery storage systems.
Lastly, I want to personally recognize Board Director David Warzecha, who retired in June after 31 years of dedicated service, first with DeWitt Electric Cooperative and then with GVEC. David has been an integral voice for the Board, which he used on behalf of the membership he represented in District 11 and for the entire GVEC membership. Thank you, David, for your valued contribution to our Board and members. Best wishes in your retirement. I would also like to welcome Warren Seidel who was recently elected by the membership to fill the District 11 Director position
As usual, I welcome your comments and feedback. You can reach me by phone at 830.857.1152, by email at dschauer@gvec.org or by mail at P.O. Box 118, Gonzales, Texas 78629.
