Many are struggling flashbacks to the lethal 2021 winter storm when tens of millions of Texans misplaced power. Things are completely different this time, consultants say.
DALLAS — There are just a few key variations between the frigid temperatures that may descend upon Texas this week and the winter storm that plunged the state into darkness 22 months in the past.
“This is going to be a very cold event, but it’s not going to be as long or as wet and damp and icy, so there are less things that can take down a power plant or grind equipment to a halt,” stated Alison Silverstein, a former advisor to the Public Utility Commission of Texas who’s now an impartial power guide.
WFAA requested her if Texans must be involved.
“I don’t think so,” she stated.
The complete state was below a winter storm warning in 2021.
Many components of Texas stayed nicely beneath 32 levels for days on finish.
The present forecast predicts sub-freezing temperatures as far south as the Rio Grande Valley Friday morning, however temperatures will rebound by Saturday.
Another distinction is the excessive wind forecast for West Texas, which ought to provide a major quantity of power.
Silverstein additionally stated tools has improved since Winter Storm Uri.
All of the power vegetation that generate electrical energy for grid operator ERCOT have been winterized, Silverstein stated, which suggests they need to be capable to function at the temperatures in the present forecast.
ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas, on the job for 2 and a half months, informed his board of administrators Tuesday that 200 producing services have been inspected to make sure they adjust to weatherization pointers.
Vegas stated the inspections are “going well.”
He stated ERCOT predicts demand to succeed in a peak of about 70,000 megawatts Friday morning – greater than the peak the company had forecast for this winter – however he stated ERCOT will greater than meet that demand.
He predicts a capability of about 90,000 megawatts.
“So we continue to expect adequate supply with reserves for the upcoming cold weather conditions,” Vegas stated.
The solely unknown, Silverstein stated, is pure fuel.
“The railroad commission has adopted rules that points along the gas delivery chain should be winterized, but most of us don’t know what those points are,” Silverstein stated. “We don’t know if they’ve adequately met the winterization requirements. And the railroad commission has set up opportunities for some of these assets to not have to qualify.”
In 2021, fuel pipelines froze, crippling era at many power vegetation.
Having little to no precipitation in the forecast ought to assist, Silverstein stated, as a result of ice can wreak havoc on tools in ways in which wind or chilly alone can’t.
It additionally means crews ought to have a neater time attending to areas to carry out repairs ought to something break.
Silverstein’s greatest worry is that with the excessive value of power, folks would possibly flip their thermostats down too low to remain protected.
“Nobody has done anything useful about energy efficiency, so Texas homes are just as poorly insulated today as they were a year and a half ago,” she stated.
“That means many people are going to have a couple of days of very high electric bills and very uncomfortable cold weather because of poor insulation.”
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