Will the Texas power grid hold up during winter weather? ERCOT says yes

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As the threat of dangerous winter weather looms, many are left wondering if the power grid can handle it. Nearly five years have passed since the devastating winter storm of 2021 exposed major issues in Texas' power grid.

The weather this time around is prompting preparations across the state, and on Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that he's activating state emergency response resources ahead of the potential winter weather impacts.

ERCOT tells ABC13 that, based on current forecasts, it expects to have enough power to meet demand this winter. The grid operator said it has made several improvements since 2021 to improve grid reliability.

"We are coming up on the five-year anniversary of winter storm Uri. It's hard to believe, and a lot has changed since then," said Matt Boms, Executive Director of the Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance. Boms said he's noticed a shift from a reactive grid to a more prepared one.

"We have stronger weatherization standards. We have faster response, reliability services. We have better coordination among the state agencies, and we have more transparency for the public," Boms said.

ERCOT said new tools have been added since 2021, including faster emergency response services that can bring power online within minutes and backup fuel requirements for generators in case natural gas supplies are disrupted.

CenterPoint told ABC13 it has also taken steps over the years to improve its infrastructure.

"We install stronger poles, right? Upgraded equipment, then ultimately, you know, selective undergrounding where it made sense to prepare for extreme weather like what we're expecting to see in the next few days," said John Cornelius Jr., CenterPoint's Vice President of Distribution Operations.

Looking ahead, CenterPoint said it plans to invest about $5 billion between 2026 and 2028 in projects such as stronger poles and moving some overhead utility lines underground.

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