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 single to double digits.” ___ How could this happen in a state that is the nation’s biggest energy producer and home to several of the world’s biggest energy companies? Standing in Harris County’s emergency management center early Monday, Lina Hidalgo said she and other officials realized “that we couldn’t just take the words from ERCOT at face value.” “They kept telling us that more power generation was coming online, only to send more orders to utilities to cut people off power,” she said Thursday. Hidalgo, the Harris County judge, said the state needs to overcome “the taboo of talking about climate change.” It’s difficult to estimate how much it would cost for all the wintertime upgrades Texas needs, but the tab would likely be in the billions of dollars.

Energy Homes Failure Winter Water Storm Gas Natural Gas Republican State Houston Dallas Grid Texans Cruz Other States Hidalgo Harris County Ercot Texas Power West Houston  energy  houston  crisis  gas  state  failure  pushed  water  texas  power  winter  homes  storm  grid

History of this topic

Texas launches new investigation into Houston’s power utility following deadly outages after Beryl
4 months, 1 week ago

Texas launches new investigation into Houston’s power utility following deadly outages after Beryl

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ attorney general launched an investigation Monday into Houston’s electric utility over allegations of fraud and waste following Hurricane Beryl, adding to the mounting scrutiny after widespread power outages left millions without electricity for days. Greg Abbott have also demanded answers about storm preparations and the response to Beryl, a Category 1 hurricane that knocked out power …

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 …

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 …

Deadly heat wave in the central US strains infrastructure, transportation and the Texas power grid
1 year, 4 months ago

Deadly heat wave in the central US strains infrastructure, transportation and the Texas power grid

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Deadly heat that has gripped Texas for much of the summer has spread into other parts of the central U.S. this week where it is forecast to stay for days, with triple-digit temperatures buckling roads, straining water systems and threatening the power grid of the nation’s energy capitol. The heat is expected to become “dangerous to the …

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 …

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

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — More than 300,000 customers in the southern U.S. remained without power Monday following damaging weekend storms, leaving residents searching for relief as sweltering temperatures continued to scorch the region. About 165,000 customers around the city still had no power Monday as crews scrambled to repair more than 700 broken poles and downed wires, said Amy Brown, a …

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 …

Texas power grid at risk again this winter: watchdog
2 years, 1 month ago

Texas power grid at risk again this winter: watchdog

Raw Story  

At least 246 Texans died when the power grid the state depended on failed after being battered by three February 2021 winter storms. That Texas grid and the Texans who count on it for heat and light, are in for another rough, wild winter according to a trusted energy watchdog that warned of those 2021 dangers. "A large portion of …

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 …

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 …

Grid operators in California and Texas brace for record heat
3 years, 6 months ago

Grid operators in California and Texas brace for record heat

Al Jazeera  

With temps forecast to reach 42C, grid operators have asked residents to cut back on power use to avoid blackouts. Electric grid operators in California and Texas are struggling to keep up with crushing demand for power this week as a sprawling heat wave smothers the western U.S. Heat watches and warnings stretch for more than 1,500 miles, from Northern …

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 …

Texas governor says power grid fixed; experts cite problems
3 years, 6 months ago

Texas governor says power grid fixed; experts cite problems

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Despite experts who say Texas’ power grid remains vulnerable, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott declared Tuesday that new reforms “fix all of the flaws” that caused February’s deadly winter blackout that left more than 4 million people without power in subfreezing weather. He went on to add, “Bottom line is that everything that needed to be done was …

Texas’ fix after blackout doesn’t dwell on climate change
3 years, 6 months ago

Texas’ fix after blackout doesn’t dwell on climate change

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ biggest fix to February’s deadly winter blackout that left more than 4 million people without power puts new attention on projections by the state’s climatologist but does not dwell on climate change after a deep freeze buckled the state’s unprepared electric grid. “Obviously, we have to be able to operate during those type of situations,” said …

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 …

Texas death toll from February storm, outages surpasses 100
3 years, 8 months ago

Texas death toll from February storm, outages surpasses 100

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas officials on Thursday raised the death toll from February’s winter storm and blackouts to at least 111 people — nearly doubling the state’s initial tally following one of the worst power outages in U.S. history. And the dramatic number of new victims is still a potential undercount, as officials continue investigating deaths that happened around the …

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 …

‘Who is at fault?’ Investigation into Texas blackout begins
3 years, 9 months ago

‘Who is at fault?’ Investigation into Texas blackout begins

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — The catastrophic Texas blackout was a wider failure than the state’s power grid, which teetered on the brink of an even bigger collapse during a freeze that knocked out electricity to 4 million customers, energy executives said Thursday. Abbott has zeroed in almost singularly on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, accusing the state’s embattled grid operator …

Blackouts bring up ‘a four-letter word’ in Texas: regulation
3 years, 9 months ago

Blackouts bring up ‘a four-letter word’ in Texas: regulation

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — All the groceries spoiled and the water was out for days. That leaves Texas little time to make last week’s plunge into freezing darkness that touched nearly all of the state’s 30 million residents one way or another — including grocery shelves left bare and miles of busted water pipes — produce tougher regulations that the state’s …

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 …

Column: The Texas crisis reminds us that ‘natural’ disasters are almost always manmade
3 years, 10 months ago

Column: The Texas crisis reminds us that ‘natural’ disasters are almost always manmade

LA Times  

Greg Abbott is responsible, but doesn’t want you to know it. Despite the example of California’s misadventure with electricity deregulation, which created the state energy crisis in 2000-01, Texas deregulated its energy market in 2002. Greg Abbott also tried to blame the state’s renewable energy providers, even suggesting that the Texas disaster showed the hazards of the progressive Green New …

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, …

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 power grid was 'seconds and minutes' from months of total collapse
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas power grid was 'seconds and minutes' from months of total collapse

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. Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas …

Biden set to declare major disaster in storm-hit Texas
3 years, 10 months ago

Biden set to declare major disaster in storm-hit Texas

Al Jazeera  

Biden expedites governor’s request as state deals with widespread water access issues and more than 180,000 without power. US President Joe Biden said on Friday he was ready to declare a major disaster in storm-slammed Texas as soon as the declaration hits his desk, and that he would travel to the state as long as he was not a burden …

Texas’ electrical grid wasn’t prepared for the storm. Other states’ systems aren’t prepared either
3 years, 10 months ago

Texas’ electrical grid wasn’t prepared for the storm. Other states’ systems aren’t prepared either

CNN  

New York CNN Business — The blackouts that shut down most of Texas for much of this week could be coming to other parts of the country in the future. Climate change is unfortunately already having a dramatic effect on our weather,” Richard Glick, the new chairman of FERC, said at the agency’s monthly meeting Thursday. “The challenges that climate …

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 …

The crisis in Texas underscores the deadly risks when the grid goes down
3 years, 10 months ago

The crisis in Texas underscores the deadly risks when the grid goes down

Salon  

On Monday night, every patient that pediatrician Phillip Scott admitted to the Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. The energy crisis in Texas underscores the deadly risks communities face when the grid goes down, which will happen more often as the occurrence of extreme weather events increases due to climate change. According to …

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 …

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

EXPLAINER: Why the power grid failed in Texas and beyond

Associated Press  

DALLAS — 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 …

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 …

GOP response to the Texas winter storms steals directly from Trump's sadistic COVID-19 playbook
3 years, 10 months ago

GOP response to the Texas winter storms steals directly from Trump's sadistic COVID-19 playbook

Salon  

Donald Trump may be gone, having left behind a pandemic that has killed nearly 500,000 Americans, due to his malicious incompetence. "But as climate change accelerates, many electric grids will face extreme weather events that go far beyond the historical conditions those systems were designed for, putting them at risk of catastrophic failure," Brad Plumer writes in the New York …

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 …

What Went Wrong With The Electric Grid In Texas?
3 years, 10 months ago

What Went Wrong With The Electric Grid In Texas?

NPR  

What Went Wrong With The Electric Grid In Texas? NPR's Noel King speaks to professor Emily Grubert, who studies energy infrastructure at Georgia Tech. NOEL KING, HOST: I want to bring in Emily Grubert, a professor at Georgia Tech whose expertise includes electrical networks. GRUBERT: Yeah, so I think one of the most important things to understand about what's going …

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 …

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 …

‘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 …

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