The Texas power grid is the most self-reliant electricity grid in the U.S. While most parts of the country are on either the Western Interconnection or the Eastern Interconnection, the state of Texas has its own power grid called the Texas Interconnection.
The state’s power grid is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which is also responsible for guiding it through extreme weather events like the winter storm of February 2021. Many Texans lost power for days because power plants couldn’t cope with the cold. So, has the electric grid been fixed to prevent this from happening again?
Here’s what you need to know about improvements on the Texas grid after the storm, and how you can prepare for future power outages and rolling blackouts.
Has Texas Upgraded Its Power Grid?
Texas has made some major improvements to the state’s power grid after the storm. It has even expanded to some parts of Texas that weren’t previously covered by ERCOT, such as Lubbock, Texas, by building more transmission lines.
In 2021, the Governor of Texas signed weatherization legislation that requires power generators and grid operators to weatherize their infrastructure and gives the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) the power to fine them if they don’t.
The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) was granted similar authority over natural gas infrastructure, which plays a key role in power generation.
Although this doesn’t guarantee that there won’t be any grid reliability issues the next time there’s a severe winter storm, it does mean that the Texas grid is better prepared for winter weather conditions than it was a couple of years ago.
What Is Texas Doing About the Power Grid?
The primary improvement to the Texas grid after the storm is improved weatherization. A big reason why the power went out in many parts of Texas is that power plants and transmission equipment weren’t able to handle the freezing temperatures.
In particular, natural gas plants and wind turbines simply couldn’t deal with the extreme cold. With these power sources offline, grid operators couldn’t supply enough power to residents to keep up with electricity demand and keep the system in balance.
Improved weatherization standards will make a difference, but will they be enough? In addition to these requirements, Texas lawmakers and regulators are also considering proposals that would require electricity providers to purchase backup power credits known as Performance Credit Mechanism (PCM).
Is the Texas Electric Grid Ready for Winter?
The Texas electric grid is better prepared for extreme winter weather than it was a few years ago — but that doesn’t mean Texans are in the clear. Last year, ERCOT issued a Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy (SARA) ahead of the 2022-2023 winter season, which showed that two things could happen in times of high demand:
- ERCOT could ask residents to voluntarily reduce their electricity use during times of peak demand
- ERCOT could implement rolling blackouts, or temporarily turning off power to one region or neighborhood at a time to balance the load on the power grid
Still, either scenario is likely to be less damaging than what happened in February 2021, when grid operators and residents alike were caught off guard by the storm.
What Happened to the Power Grid in the February 2021 Snowstorm in Texas?
The 2021 power crisis occurred as a direct result of Winter Storm Uri, which hit Texas between the dates of February 13-17. Grid operators were unable to keep electricity flowing to customers due to an imbalance between supply and demand.
Power demand increased because residents needed electricity to heat their homes in single-digit temperatures. At the same time, power supply decreased because natural gas plants and wind turbines were unable to operate in the same low temperatures.
If ERCOT hadn’t stepped in, the imbalance load could have caused major damage to equipment and transmission lines that would have taken months to fix. Instead, they resorted to “load-shedding,” which essentially meant cutting power to some areas in order to keep the overall load in balance.
Even with these steps, many Texas residents experienced multi-day power outages, and some faced sky high-electric bills due to variable-rate pricing.
Will Texas Have Another Winter Storm in 2023?
Texas has already experienced ice storms, cold fronts, and snowy conditions during the 2022-2023 season. So far, it hasn’t had to deal with a repeat of Winter Storm Uri — but peak demand on the power supply came close to the winter of 2021.
Extreme weather events are one of the long-term effects of climate change, so there’s every reason to believe Texas could face another winter storm in 2023 or 2024. Other weather phenomena like El Niño and La Niña can also impact parts of Texas.
Some residents may choose to install solar panels or buy backup generators to keep the lights on if the power goes out — but ultimately, the health of the Texas power grid comes down to the choices made by ERCOT and the Texas legislature.
According to the Texas Tribune, ERCOT planned to have 87,300 megawatts of power available in winter 2023, with 19,900 megawatts of reserve capacity.
Is the Texas Electric Grid Fixed?
No, the Texas electric grid isn’t fixed, if by fixed you mean guaranteed to work perfectly in all weather conditions. But there have been some improvements on the Texas grid after the storm of 2021 that should increase its reliability in extreme weather conditions.
The weatherization changes made to power plants and transmission lines should be enough to keep electricity running even in single-digit temperatures.
Lawmakers have also taken steps to improve communication among key players in the power market, so that grid operators don’t turn off electricity to natural gas providers during load-shedding: a vicious cycle that only made the 2021 outages worse.
It also remains to be seen whether PUC’s system of “performance credits” will have an impact on the supply of electricity in an energy crisis.
What Does ERCOT Recommend for AC?
Winter isn’t the only time of the year when demand for electricity can put a strain on the Texas power grid. Summer is a difficult time for the Texas grid, too, since the increased use of air conditioning can have a major impact on the state’s power usage.
During times of peak demand, ERCOT recommends that Texans set their thermostat to 78°F. They issued this request temporarily in the summer of 2021, and may do it again if conditions call for it. Not only does this take some of the strain off of the grid, but it can also lower your power bills by improving your home energy efficiency.
Unlike the load-shedding of 2021, this was a voluntary request and was only meant to reduce power demand, not to avert an immediate crisis.
You can use the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) to see current grid conditions and look out for advisories from ERCOT.
Is It Illegal to Turn off Electricity in the Winter in Texas?
Yes, under Texas law, it’s illegal for electricity providers to disconnect customers during extreme weather events. These are defined as situations when:
- The temperature was less than 32°F the day before and will stay below freezing for at least 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS)
- The area is or was subject to a NWS heat advisory within the previous two days
This applies to the entire service area that’s affected by the high or low temperatures. There are similar regulations for water and sewer utilities, but these only kick in when the temperature is below 28°F rather than 32°F.
Which Parts of Texas Are Covered by ERCOT?
The ERCOT grid covers 75% of Texas, including major cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin, but excluding El Paso and parts of the Panhandle. Until recently, Lubbock got its energy from the Southwest Power Pool, but now it’s part of ERCOT too, thanks to new transmission lines installed over the past few years.
By population, ERCOT has an even wider reach, serving 26 million of Texas’s 30 million residents and meeting 90% of the state’s electricity demand.
Texas residents don’t purchase their energy directly from ERCOT, but from one of the state’s many retail energy providers (REPs). In some cities, there’s a single municipal energy provider such as Austin Energy, but other parts of Texas have a deregulated energy market, which means that customers can choose from many different providers.
Switching providers won’t have an impact on your power supply during an emergency, since the electricity all comes from the same grid, but you may be able to lower your electricity bill by choosing a plan with a different provider.
How Much of the Texas Grid Is Renewable?
Texas produces more wind power than any other state and is second only to California when it comes to solar power. Still, Texas gets around 40% of its electricity from natural gas, and almost 20% from coal. That means that around one-third of the Texas grid is powered by renewable energy, and two-thirds are powered by fossil fuels.
Although renewable energy can be impacted by extreme weather events, wind energy is the state’s secret weapon in keeping prices low. In fact, many energy providers offer free electricity on nights and weekends due to an abundance of wind power.
Improvements on the Texas Grid After the Storm of 2021 Could Mean a Better Future for Residents
The Texas power grid has seen many improvements after Winter Storm Uri, but it could still experience power outages when put to the test. At times of peak demand, ERCOT may ask Texans to watch their energy usage to reduce strain on the grid. However, energy providers can’t disconnect customers during extreme weather events.
Just Energy makes it easy to track your own energy usage with the Advisor App, and to stay on top of any outages with useful load shed information. You can also choose from Green Energy plans, free nights or weekends, and other plans to keep prices low. It’s worth looking into for your household and the planet.
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- Source: https://justenergy.com/blog/were-there-any-improvements-on-the-texas-grid-after-the-storm/
