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Medina EC News

How We Balance Electricity Supply and Demand

Medina EC plans for current and future needs

Electricity is essential for nearly every aspect of daily life—so essential that we rarely think about how it’s produced and delivered to our homes. You might be surprised to learn that, behind the scenes, a network of experts is working daily (and by the minute) to anticipate how much electricity you need before you even use it.

We’re all connected to the electric grid, so ensuring the right amount of electricity for all involves a complex process of forecasting energy demand, planning for capacity and securing enough supply to meet everyone’s needs.

Powerful Sources

Electricity must be generated at a power plant using either traditional sources, such as coal, natural gas or nuclear energy, or from renewable sources, such as solar, wind or hydropower.

Medina Electric Cooperative works closely with a generation and transmission cooperative, South Texas Electric Cooperative, to secure enough electricity for our communities, using a diverse mix of energy sources to generate the power we deliver to your home or business. By maintaining a diverse energy mix, Medina EC has options to ensure reliable power at a competitive cost.

On a larger scale, across the country, electricity supply and demand are managed through a market that includes long-term planning agreements, where electricity is bought and sold just like other common goods and services. Because your co-op works with our wholesale power partner, we’re able to pool resources and expertise to deliver affordable power to our local communities.

Electricity supply changes throughout the day because demand fluctuates based on consumers’ needs. For example, Medina EC knows that we need to ensure more electricity is available in the mornings when you start your day and in the evenings when you cook dinner, run appliances and watch TV. Demand also increases when it’s extremely warm or cold outside.

Looking Ahead

As the energy sector undergoes rapid change, it’s important for consumers to understand the basics of electricity supply and demand.

Electricity use in the U.S. is expected to rise to record highs this year and next, with the demand for electricity expected to at least double by 2050. At the same time, energy policies are pushing the early retirement of always-available generation sources, which will undoubtedly compromise reliable electricity.

Medina EC remains committed to providing affordable, reliable energy to the members we serve. That’s why we’re preparing now for increased demand and other challenges that could compromise our local electricity supply.
Managing electricity supply and demand is a complex job, which is why we have a network of utilities, power plant operators and energy traffic managers in place to secure and manage the power we need and keep the grid balanced.

Until next time,
Trey Grebe