Record heat leads to power outages in Texas

Conservation urged to avoid more rolling blackouts

HOUSTON, Texas — Faced with the prospect of another day of record heat, the state’s power suppliers urged Texans to cut down on their electricity use in the hope of avoiding more rolling blackouts.

Power companies throughout the state imposed the blackouts Monday because of an electricity shortage during unseasonably hot weather. Thousands of people were caught without electricity for short periods of time as highs reached into the low 100s, and police rushed to direct traffic during the afternoon rush hour.

Highs were expected to reach into the upper 90s on Tuesday before returning to a more normal range in the 70s and 80s on Wednesday.

“We are asking everybody to pitch in and do the best they can by minimizing electric consumption between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., the peak hours,” said Paul Wattles, spokesman for Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which runs the state’s electricity grid.

AP