“Yesterday, five board members who oversaw Texas’s power grid resigned. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas had been facing backlash after a winter storm left millions of Texans without power for days during some of the state’s coldest temperatures. The council ordered rolling blackouts to try and preserve electricity throughout the state. But it led to skyrocketing electricity prices, and some customers were charged thousands of dollars for basics like heat. Now, the board members are acknowledging “the pain and suffering of Texans.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) welcomed the resignations.” from theskimm.com/Daily-Skimm 2/24/21
An electrical island’: Texas has dodged federal regulation for years by having its own power grid
Asher Price Austin American-Statesman 2/17/2021
AUSTIN, Texas – As winter storm blackouts roil Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the nonprofit that operates Texas’ electrical grid, has gained sudden notoriety – as well as the unusual fact that Texas has its own electrical grid.
The U.S. has three power grids: one covers the eastern U.S., another the western states and the Texas grid covers nearly the entire state.
The grid has been thrust into the national spotlight as extreme energy demand and overloaded frozen utility plants contributed to widespread power outages across Texas, experts said.
Nearly 4.5 million customers went without electricity Tuesday, and by Wednesday over 3.1 million Texans still didn’t have the lights turned on, according to poweroutage.us. Read HERE.