ERCOT grid alerts now come by text: how to sign up for TXANS and what each alert means
On November 10, 2026, ERCOT added text messages to TXANS, its Texas Advisory and Notification System. Until then, TXANS alerts came only by email. Emergency alerts now also come through the same system as weather watches and conservation requests.
How to sign up
- Go to ercot.com/txans.
- Choose text, email or both. Alerts are sent in English or Spanish.
- Already getting TXANS emails? You were moved over automatically. To add texts or change your settings, log in to the TXANS portal with the email address you registered.
Signing up is free. ERCOT also posts alerts in its mobile app and on its social media accounts.
What each alert means
From mildest to most serious, according to ERCOT:
| Alert | What it means |
|---|---|
| Weather Watch | Significant weather and higher demand are forecast. Grid conditions are still normal. |
| Voluntary Conservation Notice | Demand is forecast to be high and reserves low. ERCOT asks people to save power voluntarily. |
| Conservation Appeal | ERCOT could enter emergency operations. It asks people to cut use during a set time. |
| EEA Level 1 | Operating reserves are below 2,500 MW. No controlled outages. |
| EEA Level 2 | Reserves are below 2,000 MW. No controlled outages, and conservation is critical. |
| EEA Level 3 | Reserves are below 1,500 MW. ERCOT has ordered controlled outages across its region. |
Most alerts never reach the emergency levels. A Weather Watch or a Conservation Appeal is a reason to plan ahead, not a sign the power will go out.
What the alerts do not tell you
- They are not outage alerts for your street. TXANS describes conditions on the whole grid. If your power is out, report it to your delivery utility, the company that owns the poles and wires (in most of the competitive market: Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas or TNMP). Your retail electricity provider does not repair lines.
- They cover only the ERCOT region. It serves more than 27 million customers and about 90% of the state's electric load. El Paso and parts of the Panhandle and East Texas are on other grids and get alerts from their own utility.
- If someone in your home relies on electric medical equipment, ERCOT asks you to contact your local utility ahead of time.
Does a grid alert change my bill?
Not on a fixed-rate plan during its term. Your price per kWh stays as written in your Electricity Facts Label. Tight-grid days can push up wholesale prices, which can affect variable-rate plans and the price of new offers. See ERCOT wholesale prices in October 2026 for the latest monthly figures.
If your contract is ending before winter, you can compare current plans for your utility and see how we rank them.
Questions
How do I sign up for ERCOT text alerts?
Go to ercot.com/txans and choose text, email or both. Alerts come in English or Spanish. People already signed up for TXANS emails were moved over automatically and only need to log in with their email if they want to add texts.
What do the ERCOT alert levels mean?
From mildest to most serious, the alert levels are Weather Watch, Voluntary Conservation Notice, Conservation Appeal, and Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) levels 1, 2 and 3. Only EEA 3 means ERCOT has ordered controlled outages across its region.
Will an ERCOT alert tell me if my street has an outage?
No. TXANS describes statewide grid conditions. If your own power is out, report it to your local delivery utility (for example Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas or TNMP). Your retail electricity provider does not repair lines.
Does TXANS cover all of Texas?
No. TXANS covers the ERCOT region, which serves more than 27 million customers and about 90% of the state's electric load. Areas on other grids, such as El Paso and parts of the Panhandle and East Texas, get alerts from their own utility.
Sources
General information as of Nov 12, 2026, not legal or financial advice. PUCT rules (16 TAC Chapter 25), your contract and the provider's Electricity Facts Label control; check the current rule text and your own documents.
