Anger rises as millions in Texas remain without power and heat
3 years, 10 months ago

Anger rises as millions in Texas remain without power and heat

Al Jazeera  

Winter weather has also shut down Texas energy producers and halted ship traffic out of Houston, one of the busiest seaports in the world. “I know people are angry and frustrated,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who woke up to more than one million people still without power in the state’s largest city. “So am I.” Power and heat remain out for two to three million homes across Texas, more than 36 hours after historic snowfall and record freezing temperatures created a surge in demand for electricity in a state that rarely experiences such cold weather for extended periods. Making matters even worse, expectations that the outages would be a shared sacrifice by the state’s 30 million residents quickly gave way to a cold reality, as pockets in some of the US’s largest cities, including San Antonio, Dallas and Austin, were left to shoulder the lasting brunt of a catastrophic power failure, and in subfreezing conditions that Texas’s grid operators had known was coming. People said this would never happen in Texas, and yet it has.” Energy sector affected Meanwhile, the state’s energy sector remains in the dark, with Houston’s main shipping channel closed overnight and at least a fifth of US oil refining output offline.

Energy Power Texas State Houston Million Ercot  texas  states  anger  prices  remain  state  million  cold  energy  told  millions  rises  heat  power  weather

History of this topic

Angry Houston residents still want answers after Hurricane Beryl power failure
5 months ago

Angry Houston residents still want answers after Hurricane Beryl power failure

NPR  

Angry Houston residents still want answers after Hurricane Beryl power failure Devastating power outages and destruction in Houston left by Hurricane Beryl again underscored the city’s inability to sufficiently fortify itself against extreme weather events worsened by climate change. SCOTT DETROW, HOST: When Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas, the Category 1 storm left more than 2 million utility customers …

Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb

Raw Story  

"Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. 1 priority, officials emphasized during a Tuesday press briefing in Galveston County, where at least 45% of people still lack power, based …

Dangerous heat threatens millions of Texans without power for days in largest outage in utility’s history
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Dangerous heat threatens millions of Texans without power for days in largest outage in utility’s history

CNN  

CNN — Life-threatening heat is gripping southeast Texas, where more than 1.5 million homes and businesses remain without power and air conditioning for a third day after Beryl caused major power outages, including the largest in one major energy provider’s history. “We have never seen an incident of this magnitude – this is the largest outage in our history,” Brad …

Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb

Raw Story  

"Millions of Texans still lack power as temperatures climb" was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Millions of Texans remain without power Tuesday as temperatures warm into the 90s and the heat index is projected to push past …

A blistering heat wave is turning up the pressure on Texas’ power grid
1 year, 5 months ago

A blistering heat wave is turning up the pressure on Texas’ power grid

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — On another 100-degree day in Texas, Sean Whitaker lingered outside a Dallas cafe after polishing off an iced coffee, having switched off the power to everything back home except his refrigerator. As an unrelenting heat wave grips Texas for a second week, public appeals to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities have come with another ask of …

Sweltering heat tests Texas’ power grid and patience as thousands in South still without electricity
1 year, 6 months ago

Sweltering heat tests Texas’ power grid and patience as thousands in South still without electricity

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ power grid operator asked residents Tuesday to voluntarily cut back on electricity due to anticipated record demand on the system as a heat wave kept large swaths of the state and southern U.S. in triple-digit temperatures. “The delay in restoring power has caused significant hardship for their customers and it is unacceptable,” said Brent Bailey, a …

Facing heat wave, Texas’ power grid operator asks customers to cut electricity use
1 year, 6 months ago

Facing heat wave, Texas’ power grid operator asks customers to cut electricity use

LA Times  

A man takes advantage of the shade Tuesday in a playground in the Hungry Hill neighborhood of Austin, Texas. Sweltering heat across the South came amid outages caused by weekend storms and tornadoes, and threatened to overload Texas’ power grid. Texas’ power grid operator asked residents Tuesday to voluntarily cut back on electricity due to anticipated record demand on the …

Power outages continue across southern US; triple-digit heat wave grips Texas
1 year, 6 months ago

Power outages continue across southern US; triple-digit heat wave grips Texas

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than 100,000 customers in …

Texas paid Bitcoin company $175k to stop using energy an hour during fatal 2021 winter blackout
1 year, 8 months ago

Texas paid Bitcoin company $175k to stop using energy an hour during fatal 2021 winter blackout

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

Austin’s city manager fired over widespread power outages
1 year, 10 months ago

Austin’s city manager fired over widespread power outages

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin’s city manager was fired Wednesday in the wake of outrage over a slow and fumbled response to a winter storm power outage that left thousands of people in the Texas capital without electricity for a week or longer. The 10-1 vote by the Austin City Council to remove Spencer Cronk, the city’s top executive, followed growing …

Texas power woes linger as Arctic air heads for New England
1 year, 10 months ago

Texas power woes linger as Arctic air heads for New England

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Winter chill brings power outages and travel issues to US south
1 year, 10 months ago

Winter chill brings power outages and travel issues to US south

Al Jazeera  

Winter weather has resulted in at least two deaths in the state of Texas and more than 1,600 flight cancellations. “Please, STAY HOME AND OFF THE ROADS, give space heaters plenty of space, never use your oven to stay warm, and keep generators outside.” Since midnight, we've responded to 90+ accidents, including 3 w/our own units! Please, STAY HOME AND …

Texans told to conserve energy as six power plants go offline amid heatwave
2 years, 7 months ago

Texans told to conserve energy as six power plants go offline amid heatwave

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The operator of the main power grid for the state of Texas has asked residents …

Huge US winter storm leaves more than 330,000 without power
2 years, 10 months ago

Huge US winter storm leaves more than 330,000 without power

Al Jazeera  

The storm brought snow and freezing rain to states that rarely see it, caused road crashes and disrupted air travel. A winter storm that dumped sleet and heavy snow on a wide swath of the central United States this week has left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power. More than 330,000 customers were without power from Texas, …

Texas electricity prices spike with cold front set to test grid
2 years, 10 months ago

Texas electricity prices spike with cold front set to test grid

Al Jazeera  

Demand on the grid operated by Texas’s Electric Reliability Council is forecast to peak at 71,806 megawatts on February 4. Texas electricity prices surged to more than $1,000 a megawatt-hour for Friday when demand is forecast to hit a winter record in the biggest test since extreme cold and blackouts killed hundreds almost a year ago. A massive storm set …

Threats to Texas power supply from new deep freeze
2 years, 11 months ago

Threats to Texas power supply from new deep freeze

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Just over a fortnight ago, the first Arctic blast of the year crippled numerous gas wells and processing plants, …

Analysis: Texas’ electric grid is half-ready for another winter freeze
3 years ago

Analysis: Texas’ electric grid is half-ready for another winter freeze

Raw Story  

You never hear politicians promise that hurricanes and tornadoes won’t hurt you, that you won’t get wet when it rains, that protracted heat waves won’t endanger anyone or that urban fires are no threat during droughts. But after the storm that left Texans across the state freezing in the dark last February, the state’s leaders are promising now that the …

New Texas rules after blackout, but not for this winter
3 years ago

New Texas rules after blackout, but not for this winter

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Regulators of Texas’ oil and gas industry that buckled during February’s deadly freeze moved Tuesday toward making some producers more prepared for cold weather, but not in time for this winter as the nation’s power grid monitor warned the state is still at risk of blackouts. “It is not simply a get-out-of-jail-free card,” said Matt Garner, an …

Report: Texas still at risk of winter power blackouts
3 years, 1 month ago

Report: Texas still at risk of winter power blackouts

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is still at risk of power blackouts this winter in the event of extreme weather like the catastrophic February storm that buckled the state’s electrical grid and left millions of people without heat for days, the nation’s grid monitor said Thursday. “The concern is certainly sufficient,” said John Moura, director of reliability assessment at the North …

Texas power grid manager issues weeklong conservation alert
3 years, 6 months ago

Texas power grid manager issues weeklong conservation alert

Associated Press  

DALLAS — On the cusp of summer, the electric power grid manager for most of Texas on Monday issued its second conservation alert since the deadly February blackout, calling on users to dial back energy consumption through Friday to avert an emergency. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said many forced generation outages and record June demand has squeezed the …

Despite normal spring, Texas electric grid seeks power boost
3 years, 8 months ago

Despite normal spring, Texas electric grid seeks power boost

Associated Press  

DALLAS — The electric grid manager for most of Texas issued an electricity conservation watch Tuesday, appealing to customers to conserve electricity despite weather conditions typical for spring. It blames “a combination of high generation outages typical in April and higher-than-forecasted demand from a stalled cold front over Texas,” in a statement Tuesday by Woody Rickerson, vice president of grid …

Reforms to Texas’ energy grid begin moving after blackout
3 years, 8 months ago

Reforms to Texas’ energy grid begin moving after blackout

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ power grid that buckled during February’s deadly winter storm would operate under new oversight and require power plants to prepare for more extreme weather under overhauls that moved closer to Republican Gov. Six weeks after more than 100 people died in subfreezing weather in Texas, including many of hypothermia, both the GOP-controlled House and Senate have …

It's Not Just Texas. The Entire Energy Grid Needs An Upgrade For Extreme Weather
3 years, 9 months ago

It's Not Just Texas. The Entire Energy Grid Needs An Upgrade For Extreme Weather

NPR  

It's Not Just Texas. The Entire Energy Grid Needs An Upgrade For Extreme Weather Enlarge this image toggle caption John Antczak/AP John Antczak/AP The Texas blackout is another reminder that more frequent, climate-driven extreme weather puts stress on the country's electricity grid. Sponsor Message "We planned this grid for Ozzie and Harriet weather and we are now facing Mad Max," …

The Power Is Back On In Texas. Now Comes The Recovery, And It Won't Be Cheap
3 years, 9 months ago

The Power Is Back On In Texas. Now Comes The Recovery, And It Won't Be Cheap

NPR  

The Power Is Back On In Texas. Now Comes The Recovery, And It Won't Be Cheap Enlarge this image toggle caption Thomas Shea/AFP via Getty Images Thomas Shea/AFP via Getty Images For Texas, it's looking like a daunting power bill. The state could spend years paying down those costs — costs that many experts say were avoidable had Texas taken …

Republicans defend energy deregulation as new report says Texas consumers overpay by $28 billion for power
3 years, 9 months ago

Republicans defend energy deregulation as new report says Texas consumers overpay by $28 billion for power

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And the only way you can get a baseload in this country is natural …

Top Texas power officials to quit after millions endure freezing temperatures when grid failed
3 years, 10 months ago

Top Texas power officials to quit after millions endure freezing temperatures when grid failed

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Top power officials in …

Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis
3 years, 10 months ago

Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But standing in the emergency operations center early Monday, …

Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis
3 years, 10 months ago

Power failure: How a winter storm pushed Texas into crisis

Associated Press  

HOUSTON — Two days before the storm began, Houston’s chief elected official warned her constituents to prepare as they would for a major hurricane. As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas’ power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. “What’s not manageable is to lose your power for days with a temperature in the …

The Texas freeze: Why the power grid failed
3 years, 10 months ago

The Texas freeze: Why the power grid failed

Live Mint  

A fundamental flaw in the freewheeling Texas electricity market left millions powerless and freezing in the dark this week during a historic cold snap. A severe storm paralyzed almost every energy source, from power plants to wind turbines, because their owners hadn’t made the investments needed to produce electricity in subfreezing temperatures. Another problem emerged: Some power plants lost their …

Texas officials are investigating outrageous energy bills in storm price surge
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas officials are investigating outrageous energy bills in storm price surge

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Dallas resident DeAndre Upshaw said it was “very shocking” when he opened his latest electricity bill. Texas’ utility regulator, Public Utility Commission of Texas, said Saturday that it is investigating “the factors that combined with the devastating winter weather to disrupt the flow of power to millions of Texas homes.” It’s also giving customers a …

Texas crisis has governor facing big backer: energy industry
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas crisis has governor facing big backer: energy industry

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — As frozen Texas reels under one of the worst electricity outages in U.S. history, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has blamed grid operators and iced-over wind turbines but gone easier on another culprit: an oil and gas industry that is the state’s dominant business and his biggest political contributor. Like most of the state’s 30 million residents, Talarico’s …

Texas Residents Share Bone-chilling Photos as Winter Storm Brings Life in US State to Halt
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas Residents Share Bone-chilling Photos as Winter Storm Brings Life in US State to Halt

News 18  

Millions of Americans are battling frigid temperatures in absence of electricity or heat. The deadly winter storm crashed power supplies even as authorities raced to restore power before another blast of snow and ice sowed more chaos in places least equipped to deal with it. Texas officials ordered 7 million people — a quarter of the population of the nation’s …

Power Outages, Water Shortages as Texas Shivers Amid Winter Storm
3 years, 10 months ago

Power Outages, Water Shortages as Texas Shivers Amid Winter Storm

News 18  

Millions of people were still without power on Wednesday in Texas, the oil and gas capital of the United States, with some facing water shortages as an unusual winter storm pummeled the southeastern part of the country. The NWS said the storm would bring ice, sleet and heavy snow to parts of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi as it tracks …

Why the power grid failed in Texas and beyond
3 years, 10 months ago

Why the power grid failed in Texas and beyond

LA Times  

The power outages tormenting Texas in uncharacteristically arctic temperatures are exposing weaknesses in an electricity system designed when the weather’s seasonal shifts were more consistent and predictable — conditions that most experts believe no longer exist. The gap between the winter and summer supply reflects power plants going offline for maintenance during months when demand typically is less intense and …

Power Outages Linger For Millions As Another Icy Storm Looms
3 years, 10 months ago

Power Outages Linger For Millions As Another Icy Storm Looms

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING AUSTIN, Texas — Utility crews raced Wednesday to restore power to nearly 3.4 million customers around the U.S. who were still without electricity in the aftermath of a deadly winter storm, and another blast of ice and snow threatened to sow more chaos. Texas’ power grid manager, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said electricity had been …

‘A complete bungle': Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold
3 years, 10 months ago

‘A complete bungle': Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Anger over Texas’ power grid failing in the face of a record winter freeze continued to mount Wednesday as millions of residents in the energy capital of the U.S. remained shivering with no assurances that their electricity and heat — out since Monday in many homes — would return soon or stay on once it finally does. …

Why A Powerful Winter Storm Caused Blackouts In Texas
3 years, 10 months ago

Why A Powerful Winter Storm Caused Blackouts In Texas

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The powerful winter storm stampeding across the continental United States this week blasted Texas with arctic temperatures that triggered widespread blackouts, plunging millions into darkness as snow and record cold paralyzed the country’s second-largest state. “Everything in Texas is focused around summer peak demand when we’re all trying to air-condition our houses and keep it 75 when …

Why America's power grids will keep failing us
3 years, 10 months ago

Why America's power grids will keep failing us

Salon  

Wednesday marked the third day millions of Texans found themselves without power following a rare winter storm and frigid temperatures dipping into the low 20s. "Many of the problems we're seeing, both in California now in Texas, are due to the fact that the grid we have in both places is dumb and old, as opposed to being smart, new …

Winter Storm Leaves Many In Texas Without Power And Water
3 years, 10 months ago

Winter Storm Leaves Many In Texas Without Power And Water

NPR  

Winter Storm Leaves Many In Texas Without Power And Water Enlarge this image toggle caption LM Otero/AP LM Otero/AP Updated at 6:30 p.m. "The ability to restore more power is contingent on more generation coming back online," said Dan Woodfin, the senior director of ERCOT's system operations. "If you think you or a loved one has become ill from carbon …

‘A complete bungle': Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold
3 years, 10 months ago

‘A complete bungle': Texas’ energy pride goes out with cold

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Anger over Texas’ power grid failing in the face of a record winter freeze mounted Tuesday as millions of residents in the energy capital of the U.S. remained shivering with no assurances that their electricity and heat — out for 36 hours or longer in many homes — would return soon or stay on once it finally …

Deep freeze paralyzes Texas and knocks out its power grid
3 years, 10 months ago

Deep freeze paralyzes Texas and knocks out its power grid

Daily Mail  

A Texas furniture store owner has opened his business as a shelter for those left without power in the state after nearly five million people were left freezing in the darkness as a result of the harsh winter storm there. Mayor Sylvester Turner said other warming centers had to be shut down because they lost power Some utilities said they …

Millions without power as deep freeze continues across US
3 years, 10 months ago

Millions without power as deep freeze continues across US

Al Jazeera  

At least a dozen weather-related deaths have been reported with more storms on the way. At least 8 people were reported dead and more than three million were without power in the southern US state of Texas after a rare deep freeze placed an enormous burden on the state’s electrical grid, prompting rolling blackouts and limited ability of some providers …

Texas blackouts show the power grid isn’t ready for climate change
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas blackouts show the power grid isn’t ready for climate change

LA Times  

A woman wrapped in a blanket crosses the street Tuesday near downtown Dallas. When a few hundred thousand California homes and businesses lost power for several hours last summer, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote that the Golden State “is now unable to perform even basic functions of civilization, like having reliable electricity.” What Texans have experienced over the last few …

Millions Lose Power In Texas, Northern Mexico As Blackouts And Bitter Cold Continue
3 years, 10 months ago

Millions Lose Power In Texas, Northern Mexico As Blackouts And Bitter Cold Continue

NPR  

Millions Lose Power In Texas, Northern Mexico As Blackouts And Bitter Cold Continue Enlarge this image toggle caption David J. Phillip/AP David J. Phillip/AP Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET A winter storm that brought bitter cold, snow and ice and left millions without power in Texas and northern Mexico will extend its grip through Tuesday. Sponsor Message "The state has …

Winter storm cripples life in Texas, millions without power supply
3 years, 10 months ago

Winter storm cripples life in Texas, millions without power supply

India Today  

Houstonians woke up to heaps of snow outside their homes Monday morning, with brutally cold wind chill dipping temperatures into the teens and no electricity in most areas. National Weather Service forecasters have extended the winter storm warning for the Houston area to 6 a.m. Thursday, as cold weather and the threat of more rain -- freezing or otherwise -- …

Texas produces more power than any other state. Here’s why it went dark anyway
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas produces more power than any other state. Here’s why it went dark anyway

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Even mighty Texas, the energy powerhouse of America, is feeling the wrath of Mother Nature. “All sources of energy are underperforming in the extreme cold because they’re not designed to handle these unusual conditions.” The ripple effects are being felt around the nation as Texas’ prolific oil-and-gas industry stumbles. And that’s an even bigger deal …

Frozen wind turbines, limited gas supplies and rolling blackouts: Behind Texas’ energy woes
3 years, 10 months ago

Frozen wind turbines, limited gas supplies and rolling blackouts: Behind Texas’ energy woes

CNN  

CNN — Some of the warmest places in Texas, where rolling power outages are occurring across the chilly state, are inside cars and trucks parked in the driveway of a home without electricity. “For now it feels like a waiting game.” Ryan Rijken said his family in north Texas has been dealing with rolling power outages since around 3 a.m. …

Millions in Texas lose power as winter storm drops temps to -22C
3 years, 10 months ago

Millions in Texas lose power as winter storm drops temps to -22C

Al Jazeera  

Over two million people are in the dark due to rolling blackouts to stop a system-wide power outage. The state of Texas continued to reel under a deep freeze, leaving utilities scrambling to meet record power demand and forcing the state’s grid operator to enforce rotating blackouts early on Monday, putting over two million Texans in the dark. Rotating power …

Discover Related