WEATHER ALERT
Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texas’ open market deliver?
Read full article: Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texas’ open market deliver?Years in the making, the transition from a municipal electric company to an open market has left some residents unsure.
Appeals court says state agency set electricity prices too high during 2021 winter storm
Read full article: Appeals court says state agency set electricity prices too high during 2021 winter stormThe actions by the Public Utility Commission led to billions of dollars of overcharges, the Austin-based court found. It’s not yet clear if the ruling will affect consumers.
Analysis: A power test for Texas voters
Read full article: Analysis: A power test for Texas votersAfter last winter’s near-statewide electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers went after regulators they deemed responsible but tiptoed around the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas. Now voters have a chance, if they want it, to send the state a message.
Analysis: Whatever the campaigns say, the Texas electric grid isn’t fixed yet
Read full article: Analysis: Whatever the campaigns say, the Texas electric grid isn’t fixed yetAfter 2021’s winter storm electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers worked to shore up the state’s electric grid. But they’re not finished, despite what you might hear from campaigning politicians.
Analysis: Texas voters and political candidates aren’t on the same page
Read full article: Analysis: Texas voters and political candidates aren’t on the same pageWhat top Texas candidates are talking about isn’t always the same as what the voters think are the most important issues facing the state.
How Texas’ power grid failed in 2021 — and who’s responsible for preventing a repeat
Read full article: How Texas’ power grid failed in 2021 — and who’s responsible for preventing a repeatIn the state’s power grid, electricity and natural gas are co-dependent. Here’s how the winter storm last year broke the system.
Analysis: In Texas, cold weather brings a political chill
Read full article: Analysis: In Texas, cold weather brings a political chillThis week’s cold weather forecast triggers memories of the electricity blackouts that left millions in the dark during a polar vortex and killed hundreds of Texans last year. It’s triggering politicians’ memories, too, during the primary election.
Analysis: Texas’ electric grid is half-ready for another winter freeze
Read full article: Analysis: Texas’ electric grid is half-ready for another winter freezeChances are, winter weather won’t be as bad as it was last February. Chances are, Texas won’t have the electric blackouts that caused so much misery then. And chances are, whatever happens will have some influence on the 2022 elections.
Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast
Read full article: Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecastGov. Greg Abbott says he can "guarantee" there won't be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That's the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll.
Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alert
Read full article: Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alertNext year’s primary elections start a year after a winter storm knocked out power across Texas — and the government response to that disaster could be on voters’ minds.
Analysis: The Texas electric grid and the improvements that didn’t come
Read full article: Analysis: The Texas electric grid and the improvements that didn’t comeTexas lawmakers passed major bills in response to the winter storm power outages that killed hundreds of Texans in February. But there’s still a lot to do.
Analysis: Texas lawmakers might get a second life for dying bills
Read full article: Analysis: Texas lawmakers might get a second life for dying billsAs the end of the regular session approaches, Texas lawmakers — and some of their bills — are running out of time. But there's a special session coming later this year, and maybe — just maybe — another chance for dead legislation.
Texas Legislature approves bill to ban residential wholesale electricity plans — the first major winter storm bill sent to the governor
Read full article: Texas Legislature approves bill to ban residential wholesale electricity plans — the first major winter storm bill sent to the governorTime is running out on a slate of other bills lawmakers are considering that stem from February's deadly winter storm.
Texplainer: Why does Texas have its own power grid?
Read full article: Texplainer: Why does Texas have its own power grid?Basically, Texas has its own grid to avoid dealing with — you guessed it — the feds. But grid independence has been violated a few times over the years — not even counting Mexico's help during blackouts in 2011.