Texas Dodges Summer Blackout Nightmare: Solar And Batteries Crush 2025 Outage Risk

Most Texans can breathe easier this summer. ERCOT, the state’s grid operator, finally has some good news to share. They’ve got enough juice to meet customer demand during the scorching months ahead. Even with record-breaking heat on the horizon.

Relief for Texans as ERCOT promises enough power to handle even the most blistering summer heat ahead.

The numbers speak for themselves. A whopping 87.5 gigawatts of peak demand expected. That’s a lot of air conditioners blasting at once, folks. Yet somehow—maybe through divine intervention or actual planning—ERCOT expects to handle it.

Remember when Texas was the punchline of national energy jokes? Those days might be fading. Sure, we’re still one of the top two states at risk for summer outages. But hey, progress is progress.

The secret weapon? Solar panels. Thousands of them baking under that merciless Texas sun, pumping electricity when we need it most. Mid-afternoon, when every living soul cranks their AC to arctic levels. Last summer, they impressively contributed nearly 25% of power during peak mid-day hours.

But solar has an Achilles’ heel—it goes to sleep when the sun does. That’s where those fancy new batteries come in. Evening hours remain the danger zone. As solar generation dips, those battery storage systems kick in. Without them, we’d be sitting in the dark, sweating through our pajamas.

CPS Energy isn’t taking chances. They’ve got 9,500 megawatts ready for San Antonio and beyond. Inspections of utility plants statewide? Done. ERCOT’s boss even had the guts to call the grid “as reliable as it ever has been.” Bold statement from an organization that’s seen some things.

The weather gods could still throw a curveball. NOAA predicts hotter, drier conditions than average. One extended heatwave and all bets are off.

But let’s enjoy the moment. Texas, with its growing mix of gas, wind, solar, and batteries, might just make it through without the lights flickering. The state is gradually diversifying its energy sources, with natural gas expected to provide 37.7% of capacity in 2025. Despite higher temperatures reducing panel efficiency by 0.3-0.5% per degree, the sheer volume of solar installations is more than making up the difference. For once, the energy news isn’t all doom and gloom. Just mostly sunny with a slight chance of competence.