Below 2,500 megawatts of operating reserves, ERCOT can send a Level 1 emergency text alert to Guadalupe County subscribers if recovery is not expected within 30 minutes. Residents can now sign up for the grid notices by text or email through ERCOT’s TXANS service.
The Nov. 10 launch adds texts in English and Spanish for weather watches, conservation notices and appeals, and emergency alerts. Existing TXANS email subscribers can add a phone number to their subscriptions.
What the emergency levels mean
Level 2 begins below 2,000 megawatts of operating reserves when recovery is not expected within 30 minutes, or when grid frequency stays below 59.91 hertz for 15 minutes. Level 3 begins below 1,500 megawatts of reserves or below 59.8 hertz; ERCOT says that level involves controlled outages.
Seguin’s city utility reports 8,500 electric meters, while GVEC provides electricity in the Guadalupe County portion of Schertz. Those local utility records identify who provides electric service in those areas; the new grid notices come from ERCOT’s subscription system.
How to sign up
Residents can choose their notifications on the TXANS enrollment page. ERCOT’s subscription guide explains how new subscribers confirm enrollment, how existing subscribers add a phone number and how to unsubscribe.
Dallas News first reported the change. For the current alert descriptions and enrollment options, residents can check ERCOT’s TXANS page directly.