ABC13 town hall: Is Texas' power grid ready for what's next after historic freeze?
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- While the Texas power grid left some energy experts feeling encouraged after last week's brush with subfreezing temperatures, leaders tell ABC13 more must be done to prevent another disaster like we saw during last February's historic winter storm.
"This was just a lucky break," U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said. "We thought it was going to be this cold, but it wasn't, so we haven't really tested anything."
Monday marks one year since the storm began. It killed 246 people and left millions without electricity and clean water for days, even weeks.
Five hundred others died from carbon monoxide poisoning while attempting to warm themselves inside their vehicles.
Our latest winter snap set a low bar for the Texas grid, said Charles McConnell, former assistant U.S. energy secretary and energy center officer at University of Houston.
In 2021, Texans faced 44 hours of straight freezing temperatures, with up to 2 inches of snow, a low of 13 degrees, and a zero-degree wind chill. By comparison, we only saw 19 hours of freezing temperatures last week, with little in the way of freezing rain and a low of 27 degrees.
"It wasn't as severe," McConnell said. "Many of the fundamental issues that we were struck by last year still remain... we're just fortunate, that's all we can say."
Garcia and McConnell joined Eyewitness News anchors Gina Gaston and Tom Abrahams for an Action 13 town hall Thursday night, answering concerns about the state power grid's ability to handle crippling cold in the winter, and sweltering heat come summertime.
The town hall panel also included two local state representatives, Republican Jacey Jetton, of Fort Bend County, and Democrat Jon Rosenthal, of Houston.
Throughout the hour-long conversation, the legislators and stakeholders debated the merits of two bills passed by the Texas Legislature last session, requiring power plants to weatherize among other measures overhauling the state's electric grid.
Both Jetton and Rosenthal agreed, however, the legislature will have to keep tackling the issue to deliver the competitive electric pricing and protective regulations Texans want.
Our panelists also answered questions and concerns from Eyewitness News viewers:
Q: "What has Gov. Abbott actually done other than asking the ERCOT board members he appointed to resign, and then appointing another group? Has any of the previous years' recommendations been implemented?" - Howard Miller, West Houston
Rep. Jetton: On Senate Bill 2, Jetton said the legislature made significant changes to the makeup of ERCOT's board, and put more regulations on who could serve there, including Texas residency requirements.
"The governor led the way on making sure that those individuals that were part of ERCOT before resigned," Jetton added. "I think that steps have been taken, I don't believe that we're done, I don't think that when it comes to infrastructure we're ever really done. But I think that we've addressed a lot."
Q: "Power to our home was out for three days. It was frustrating to look outside and see empty office buildings with power. Have procedures been put in place to turn off power to office buildings before residences?" - Helen Pullen, Upper Kirby
Charles McConnell: No, unfortunately.
"We all should recognize the grid is not managed so that people in fancy offices can stay lit while people in homes freeze," McConnell said. "They're looking at the load management of the entirety of the grid, and all of the issues associated with maintaining grid stability. Depending on how the grid is laid out, that's how those decisions get made, they're not arbitrarily made. That's a fact, but it's hard."
