With the summer heatwave that has engulfed the state showing no signs of letting up, today, Fort Bend County Judge KP George and County Officials asked residents to heed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) conservation appeal urging area residents to consider their neighbors and the well-being of others when making the decision to conserve electricity.

The likelihood that high energy usage could cause a potential shortage if the electric grids led ERCOT to call upon consumers and businesses to reduce usage to prevent a risk to the electric system.

“I ask everyone to do their part to prevent a power outage whether that consist of adjusting the thermostat in your home to 78 degrees or higher, unplugging unused appliances, or turning off unnecessary lights,” said KP George. “You probably won’t notice the slight change, but it helps ease the strain on the electrical grid.”

Efforts are underway by Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management Manager and Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse to assess the backup power needs of the county while continuing to monitor for outages. It’s advised that residents have a contingency plan in place in the event that they lose power. Residents are encouraged to monitor the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management and the County Judge’s social media sites and websites for updates.

State Representative Ron Reynolds, (HD27), who serves on the State House Energy Resource Committee and is Vice-chair of the Climate, Environment, and Energy Caucus stated that Winter Storm Uri showed what was needed to ensure that Texas’ grid is reliable and that the State needs to make efforts to weatherize critical infrastructure and make the necessary investments to ensure that Texans don’t experience rolling blackouts. Promising to prioritize this issue during the next legislative session, Representative Reynolds suggested that Texas become a part of the national grid.

Fort Bend County Emergency Medical Services Interim Chief Brian Petrilla reminded residents to exercise caution when participating in outdoor activities and to know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, asking residents to call 911 immediately if they exhibit signs of either.

The Department of Health and Human Services provided residents, who are facing financial constraints, with information on how they can apply for assistance with utility bills, mortgage, rent, food, medication, and emergency shelter by contacting Fort Bend social services at 281-238-3502.

Judge KP George’s office is currently engaging with area nonprofits and religious leaders to provide additional cooling center locations in the county for residents to beat the heat wave.