In response to the cold weather causing a surge in energy demand, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a request for people to conserve electricity during specific hours. On Tuesday, the conservation period will be from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., following a previous call for conservation on Monday morning.

ERCOT's energy forecast provides valuable information about the current energy situation. It highlights the need for conservation efforts to ensure a stable supply of electricity during peak demand periods.

The City of Austin has taken several measures to address the frigid temperatures and provide assistance to residents. Cold weather shelters are available until Wednesday morning, according to a press conference held by the City of Austin. To access these shelters, individuals can register from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at One Texas Center, located at 505 Barton Springs Rd. For more information on directions, the cold weather shelter hotline can be contacted at 512-972-5055, or individuals can reach out to the city's nonemergency services line at 311 or 512-974-2000.

To offer respite from the cold, three Austin Public Library locations - Little Walnut Creek Branch, Ruiz Branch, and Terrazas Branch - are serving as warming centers until 6 p.m. on Monday. Additionally, the Central Library Special Events Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Residents in need of a temporary warm space can visit any of these locations. An interactive map with the locations of the warming centers is available for reference.

For the latest updates on cold weather shelters and warming centers, residents are encouraged to visit the city's alerts page, which provides real-time information.

Austin Resource Recovery has warned that curbside collection services may be delayed due to the weather conditions. To ensure proper collection, residents are advised to leave their carts on the curbs, and the collection crews will attend to them later in the week.

Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management conducted a press conference on Monday, where Mayor Kirk Watson, along with representatives from Austin Energy and Austin Transportation Public Works, provided updates on the city's response to the winter weather. The press conference highlighted the ongoing efforts to address the challenges posed by the severe cold.

With the cold weather causing increased energy demand, ERCOT's call to conserve electricity and the measures taken by the City of Austin aim to minimize disruptions and ensure the well-being of residents amid the challenging weather conditions.