How to Monitor ERCOT's Current Grid Conditions in Real-Time

SAN ANGELO, TX — Ahead of this weekend's arctic blast and potential winter weather impacting West Central Texas, residents in San Angelo and the Concho Valley can stay informed by monitoring the state's power grid through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). 

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service in San Angelo for parts of the region, with bitterly cold temperatures, possible sleet, freezing rain, and snow expected starting Friday night into Saturday. Highs could drop into the 20s, raising concerns about increased demand on the power grid. 

ERCOT, which manages Texas' main power grid, provides a public dashboard where anyone can track real-time conditions, including supply, demand, and operating reserves.

Click here to watch the grid in real-time. 

The dashboard includes timestamps showing when data was last updated, so you can see the most current information. As of mid-afternoon on January 21, 2026, conditions were normal with operating reserves well above 17,000 megawatts — indicating plenty of buffer for current demand. 

The main Grid Conditions meter is color-coded: green means normal operations with sufficient power. Yellow indicates energy conservation is required. Orange, red, and black correspond to escalating Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Levels 1, 2, and 3. Controlled outages are a tool of last resort in Level 3. 

When electric supply and demand can't be balanced voluntarily, ERCOT may declare an energy emergency. 

EMERGENCY LEVEL ONE 

Reserves hitting around 2,500 megawatts signal things are getting serious. If operating reserves drop below 2,500 MW and aren't expected to recover within 30 minutes, ERCOT issues a Level 1 alert — indicating risk of controlled outages if conditions worsen.

EMERGENCY LEVEL TWO 

Watch the 2,000 MW mark. Below this threshold triggers Level 2, where ERCOT can reduce demand by interrupting power to large industrial customers who have contractually agreed to curtail usage during emergencies. 

EMERGENCY LEVEL THREE 

Reserves dropping below 1,500 MW enters Level 3, potentially leading to controlled, rotating outages for residential and business customers. Prolonged shortages may require additional measures to balance the grid. 

For more details on each level, check the "Full View" options on the dashboard charts.