HOUSTON, Texas – If you’ve been living in Texas since 2021 or even just moved here last year, you’re likely aware of the power surges that occur during major weather events.
Back in February 2021, a devastating winter storm hit, forcing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the state’s primary power grid, to cut electricity to millions of Texans. This drastic measure was taken to prevent the grid from collapsing entirely. Unfortunately, the decision resulted in hundreds of deaths and left millions without power or heat as both traditional power plants and renewable energy sources failed in freezing temperatures.
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According to ERCOT, several factors contributed to the crisis. One major issue was the spike in electricity demand when the state, including the Houston area, experienced below-freezing temperatures.
ERCOT said it was caught off guard by how much demand could increase under such conditions.
Another significant problem was the drop in natural gas supply during the storm, caused by equipment failures and power outages. This is crucial because most power plants in Texas rely on natural gas.
The biggest challenge, however, was the inability of power plants to operate in extremely cold temperatures. When ERCOT ordered utilities to cut power to reduce demand, transmission companies also cut power to parts of the natural gas supply chain. This decision exacerbated the situation, as natural gas producers couldn’t deliver enough fuel to power plants, and some wells couldn’t produce as much gas due to the freezing conditions.
Since then, ERCOT has implemented significant changes to the power grid. For the most part, the grid has been adapting well since 2021.
However, last year, when a Category 1 hurricane hit the Houston area, about 2.2 million homes and businesses lost power, causing panic among residents.
This time, the issue wasn’t with ERCOT but with CenterPoint Energy, which manages transmission and distribution lines in Houston.
Hurricane Beryl uprooted trees, snapped branches, and damaged power lines, leading to widespread outages. Restoring power took time, leaving millions without electricity for days and at least half a million for more than a week.
CenterPoint Energy explained that despite their planning and preparation, the extensive damage to trees and power poles hindered their ability to restore power quickly.
In response, both ERCOT and CenterPoint have made changes.
With Texas currently facing below-freezing temperatures in some areas, residents are understandably concerned about whether the grid will hold up.
Continuing the conversation, Investigative Reporter Robert Arnold explored the potential of nuclear energy and what it might look like in Texas.
