HOUSTON, Texas – As winter approaches, Texans are curious about whether the state, particularly the Houston area, is ready for the cold months ahead.
With an arctic blast hitting this week and temperatures dropping into the low 20s in some areas, KPRC 2 Investigates reached out to experts like Charles McConnell and Daniel Cohan, and received updates from CenterPoint Energy and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on their plans to keep the lights on, not just this season but for the future.
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ERCOT has issued a weather watch until Friday but hasn’t asked Texans to reduce power usage.
“ERCOT is closely monitoring the winter weather conditions,” a statement read. “ERCOT issued a Weather Watch Monday, which is a heads-up that we are experiencing higher demand due to the weather conditions with the possibility for lower operating reserves. At this time, grid conditions are normal and are expected to remain normal. ERCOT will provide updates to the public if conditions change.”
This week’s weather pattern brings back memories of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, when an arctic blast brought snow, ice, and subfreezing temperatures to Texas, nearly collapsing the state grid. The storm caused widespread power outages, leaving millions in the dark and cold for days, claiming hundreds of lives, and prompting significant changes to the state’s grid operations.
Since then, ERCOT says it has made several improvements to ensure reliability during extreme weather, including enhanced weatherization and forecasting models. They encourage people to stay informed through their dashboards and social media. Some key improvements include
Weatherization and Inspections: ERCOT is entering its fourth season of winter weatherization inspections with enhanced requirements for generation and transmission facilities.
Firm Fuel Supply Service (FFSS): This service provides an additional source of onsite fuel for generators, offering redundancy in case of natural gas scarcity.
Scheduled Maintenance Period: ERCOT has coordinated with generators and transmission operators to schedule maintenance during off-peak seasons.
Forecasting Improvements: Efforts to reduce weather forecast errors include procuring additional forecasts and developing load forecast models for extreme cold.
ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS): Added in June 2023, ECRS utilizes resources that can start within 10 minutes to address unexpected changes in supply or demand.
Fast Frequency Response Service: Introduced in 2022, this service leverages faster-responding resources.
Critical Supply Chain and Infrastructure Map: Created in 2022 to share the locations and connectivity of critical Texas power infrastructure.
Improved Inter-Agency Communications: Enhanced communication through the Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Energy Reliability Council.
Transparent Communications: In May 2023, ERCOT launched the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) for real-time grid updates, available in Spanish.
CenterPoint Energy is also actively preparing for the cold, inspecting and testing cold-weather equipment, coordinating emergency plans with utility partners, and collaborating with ERCOT on joint exercises.
“CenterPoint Energy continues to actively monitor potentially severe cold weather projected to impact the Greater Houston area over the coming days,” the company stated.
They have a cold weather action plan in place and are ready to respond to potential service issues.
Amid ongoing concerns about the grid, the idea of bringing more nuclear energy to Texas has sparked debate.
Charles McConnell, who leads the Center for Carbon Management and Energy at the University of Houston and also the former Assistant Secretary of Energy for the US Dept. of Energy under Obama, is enthusiastic about future energy technologies.
“It’s really important that we put a stake in the ground in terms of the kinds of energy that are going to be important for the future,” McConnell said. He believes Texas is well-suited to lead in nuclear energy development due to its resources and regulations.
On the other hand, energy systems expert and Rice University professor, Daniel Cohan argues that nuclear energy isn’t a top priority for Texas right now. He suggests that solar, wind, batteries, and natural gas are more practical and cost-effective.
“Nuclear is one of the most expensive options that I could imagine of how you might back up the variable output of wind and solar,” Cohan said.
Since nuclear power won’t be available until at least the 2030s, he believes Texas should focus on more immediate solutions to meet its growing power demands.
Tune in to KPRC 2 News at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, where investigative reporter Robert Arnold will break down the plan to implement nuclear energy in Texas.
