HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Texas-based H-E-B, one of the nation's largest grocery retailers with more than 370 stores in Texas and Mexico, announced today an exclusive agreement with Texas Microgrid LLC. (Texas Microgrid) providing Enchanted Rock’s (“ERock”) On Demand Electric Reliability℠ service for a projected 45 stores in the greater Houston region. Situated on the Texas Gulf Coast, the Houston area is highly susceptible to the detriments of a variety of weather events such as tropical storms, hurricanes, flooding, high winds and more, and H-E-B is taking further steps to ensure stores can remain open when utility service goes down.
“Our H-E-B Houston area stores experience intermittent power outages,” said George Presses, H-E-B Vice President of Fuel and Energy. “We are in need of a reliable back up power system that will keep our stores up and running without any interruption to our partners, customers or communities due to a weather event or a general, short term grid outage.”
Texas Microgrid through ERock’s unique and proprietary natural gas-powered microgrid design will provide a sufficient amount of electrical reliability to supply the energy needs of an entire store when normal utility power is not available. With backup generation of this level, H-E-B will be able to provide a critical service to the community during and after major or minor weather and flooding events like those experienced in Houston recently.
“Providing aid in times of disaster is the cornerstone of H-E-B's Helping Here philosophy, which promises to stand by communities during times of need,” added Presses. “Keeping our stores open in times of need, strengthens our ability to serve our communities.”
ERock’s On Demand Electric Reliability℠ service allows customers to pay only a small fraction of the installation cost of a standard reliability microgrid system. The structure of the offering shifts the performance risk to the operator and owner of the assets allowing customers to focus their time and capital on their core business.
Thomas McAndrew, Founding Partner and Managing Director of ERock said, “We are proud to partner with H-E-B and help further its mission to serve the communities in which it operates. H-E-B is a forward thinking leader in its field and we are excited to continue building the relationship between H-E-B and Texas Microgrid/ERock.”
About Enchanted Rock
Founded in 2006, Enchanted Rock, Ltd. builds and operates cost effective microgrids that help companies manage physical and financial risk associated with electricity. The company is responsible for the design, project management, installation, and commissioning of over 67 MW of customer microgrids in the Greater Houston Area and 160 MW of grid reliability distributed generation sites across Texas. Enchanted Rock is the only company in Texas with a demonstrated track record in all areas of microgrids and distributed power including electrical interconnection, energy market integration, control technologies, construction, and asset operations and maintenance. For more information, visit www.erockhold.com.
About H-E-B
H-E-B, with sales of more than $23 billion, operates more than 370 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2015. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at everyday low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs more than 86,000 Partners in Texas and 9,000 Partners in Mexico and serves millions of customers in more than 300 communities. For more information, visit heb.com.
