INSIDER
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitte’s contracts after public loan project scandal
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Legislature will review Deloitte’s contracts after public loan project scandalThe examination of Deloitte’s existing contracts comes after it failed to catch red flags in a company’s application for a loan to build or upgrade power plants in the state.
Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitch
Read full article: Texas lawmakers question agency's ability to oversee $5 billion energy loan program after initial glitchLawmakers tasked the Public Utility Commission with overseeing the Texas Energy Fund, though the agency has no experience running a loan program.
CenterPoint CEO promises improvements as Texas scrutinizes company’s Beryl response
Read full article: CenterPoint CEO promises improvements as Texas scrutinizes company’s Beryl responseJason Wells told regulators the company will launch a new outage tracker by Aug. 1. It will also trim more tree limbs near power lines and hire an executive to focus on emergency response.
Attorney general investigating CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl’s long-lasting power outages
Read full article: Attorney general investigating CenterPoint Energy after Hurricane Beryl’s long-lasting power outagesThe company’s power outages in July have drawn the ire of state leaders. Here’s what you need to know.
Texas governor criticizes Houston energy as utility says power will be mostly restored by Wednesday
Read full article: Texas governor criticizes Houston energy as utility says power will be mostly restored by WednesdayThe Houston area’s main utility company says it expects to have power restored to most residents by Wednesday.
Abbott reprimands CenterPoint and calls for an investigation into the utility’s response to Beryl blackouts
Read full article: Abbott reprimands CenterPoint and calls for an investigation into the utility’s response to Beryl blackoutsAbbott demanded that the utility company produce a plan by the end of July outlining how it will improve power reliability ahead of future storms.
CenterPoint exudes chaos, but also appears to be restoring power faster than it previously has
Read full article: CenterPoint exudes chaos, but also appears to be restoring power faster than it previously hasAccording to state filings, the utility is restoring power at a relatively quicker pace than after prior storms. Texans are still fed up.
Texas energy companies are betting hydrogen can become a cleaner fuel for transportation
Read full article: Texas energy companies are betting hydrogen can become a cleaner fuel for transportationSupporters say developing hydrogen as a fuel is critical to slowing climate change. Critics are concerned that producing it with fossil fuels will prop up the oil and gas industry.
Texas grid faces winter after failed attempt to get more power online
Read full article: Texas grid faces winter after failed attempt to get more power onlineIndustry experts continue to argue over whether the electricity market in Texas needs to change to make the grid more reliable in winter and summer.
U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Roger Williams decline House speaker bid
Read full article: U.S. Reps. Jodey Arrington, Roger Williams decline House speaker bidOnly one Texan, Rep. Pete Sessions, remains in the race for House Speaker. Republicans will hear from the candidates Monday night as they try to fill the job following U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s failure to win a majority.
How ERCOT is narrowly getting through an extreme summer — and how experts say it could do better
Read full article: How ERCOT is narrowly getting through an extreme summer — and how experts say it could do betterRecord-high power demand and faltering electricity sources have tested the grid in the past month, forcing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to dig deep into its toolbox to keep power flowing.
Texas utility commission chair raises threat of summer power outages and pushes for more gas-powered electricity
Read full article: Texas utility commission chair raises threat of summer power outages and pushes for more gas-powered electricityPublic Utility Commission Chair Peter Lake said renewable energy could be critical to preventing power outages this summer. Renewable energy supporters said the grid’s reliability doesn’t hinge on wind and solar.
Appeals court says state agency set electricity prices too high during 2021 winter storm
Read full article: Appeals court says state agency set electricity prices too high during 2021 winter stormThe actions by the Public Utility Commission led to billions of dollars of overcharges, the Austin-based court found. It’s not yet clear if the ruling will affect consumers.
What you need to know about Texas’ complex — but important — electricity market reform plan
Read full article: What you need to know about Texas’ complex — but important — electricity market reform planThe idea, which still lacks some important details and could be changed by state lawmakers, would change how electricity is paid for in tight times. We explain it for everyday Texans.
State agency that oversees Texas power grid needs more money to do its job, Sunset Commission finds
Read full article: State agency that oversees Texas power grid needs more money to do its job, Sunset Commission findsThe Public Utility Commission has about 200 employees but needs more to handle shoring up the state power grid and tackling an expanded list of regulatory duties, according to the state Sunset Advisory Commission.
Texas Supreme Court will decide whether ERCOT should be immune from lawsuits sparked by deadly winter storm
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court will decide whether ERCOT should be immune from lawsuits sparked by deadly winter stormMany people and insurers sued the Electric Reliability Council of Texas after the 2021 freeze. The nonprofit says it shouldn’t be liable. The state Supreme Court has a chance to weigh in.
After underestimating power demand, Texas electric grid operator gets federal permission to exceed air quality limits
Read full article: After underestimating power demand, Texas electric grid operator gets federal permission to exceed air quality limitsThe U.S. Department of Energy granted permission for power plants to release more pollution than is normally allowed — if grid conditions worsen.
Texas lawmakers ask state agency to delay power market redesign until after 2023 legislative session
Read full article: Texas lawmakers ask state agency to delay power market redesign until after 2023 legislative sessionIn a Monday committee hearing, lawmakers questioned whether a Public Utility Commission proposal to redesign Texas’ electricity market would lead to the building of more natural-gas-fired power plants. Regulators say it would.
Texas grid still vulnerable to extreme winter weather, ERCOT estimate shows
Read full article: Texas grid still vulnerable to extreme winter weather, ERCOT estimate showsChanges to Texas’ power grid have improved ERCOT’s ability to keep power flowing during major winter storms, but in an extreme scenario, the grid could still face rolling blackouts, a seasonal assessment shows.
State agency proposes changes to power market aimed at averting mass blackouts
Read full article: State agency proposes changes to power market aimed at averting mass blackoutsThe proposal is aimed at making sure power providers and electricity generators have enough power on hand in case of increased demand. But it’s not clear how it would hold up in unexpected weather, an expert said.
Texans are about to see a hike in their phone bills. Take our 5-question survey.
Read full article: Texans are about to see a hike in their phone bills. Take our 5-question survey.The Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted a rate hike in July, so some Texans can expect their phone bills to go up next month.
Gov. Greg Abbott touts Texas power grid’s readiness heading into fall, election season
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott touts Texas power grid’s readiness heading into fall, election seasonThe governor shared the favorable forecast — which is normal for the fall months — ahead of a competitive race in which the grid’s performance during last year’s fatal winter storm may factor into Texans’ decisions at the polls.
“He has total veto power”: Greg Abbott takes control over who will lead Texas’ troubled power grid, sources say
Read full article: “He has total veto power”: Greg Abbott takes control over who will lead Texas’ troubled power grid, sources sayLocked in a potentially tight reelection race and facing criticism over the grid’s 2021 collapse, the governor is exerting unprecedented influence over what the state grid operator shares with the public — and who will be its next CEO.
Phone bills are about to go up for some in Texas. Here’s why.
Read full article: Phone bills are about to go up for some in Texas. Here’s why.The rate increase will help replenish a state fund to maintain and operate cellphone networks in rural Texas. A court determined the state’s Public Utility Commission needed to restore $200 million in overdue money to the fund.
Why the Texas grid causes the High Plains to turn off its wind turbines
Read full article: Why the Texas grid causes the High Plains to turn off its wind turbinesWhile wind farms in the region could help power and lower energy costs for at least 9 million homes, significant infrastructure upgrades would be needed to supply electricity from the region to other parts of the state.
Texans face skyrocketing home energy bills as the state exports more natural gas than ever
Read full article: Texans face skyrocketing home energy bills as the state exports more natural gas than everThe cost of electricity in Texas is tightly tied to the price of natural gas, which has more than doubled since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.
Texas power grid leaders say they’re confident the lights will stay on this summer
Read full article: Texas power grid leaders say they’re confident the lights will stay on this summerTexas Public Utility Commission Chair Peter Lake and ERCOT President Brad Jones said the power grid is prepared for record-breaking summer electricity demand.
Analysis: A power test for Texas voters
Read full article: Analysis: A power test for Texas votersAfter last winter’s near-statewide electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers went after regulators they deemed responsible but tiptoed around the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates oil and gas. Now voters have a chance, if they want it, to send the state a message.
Texas could connect to national power grids without losing autonomy, former grid regulator says
Read full article: Texas could connect to national power grids without losing autonomy, former grid regulator saysTexas has long refused to connect its decentralized grid to two national power networks, but Hunt Energy Network CEO Pat Wood said the state could do so without additional oversight — and without state Legislature approval.
How Texas’ power grid failed in 2021 — and who’s responsible for preventing a repeat
Read full article: How Texas’ power grid failed in 2021 — and who’s responsible for preventing a repeatIn the state’s power grid, electricity and natural gas are co-dependent. Here’s how the winter storm last year broke the system.
A year after the electric grid failed, Texas focuses on reliability, not climate change
Read full article: A year after the electric grid failed, Texas focuses on reliability, not climate changeTransitioning sources of electricity to cleaner fuels is one of the best tools humanity has to fight climate change — which brings severe weather that taxes the grid. But a year after the winter storm, Texas leaders aren’t talking about decarbonizing.
The 2021 winter storm caught Texans by surprise. Here’s how to prepare this year.
Read full article: The 2021 winter storm caught Texans by surprise. Here’s how to prepare this year.With the height of the winter season approaching, here are some tips to prepare an emergency kit, protect your home and stay informed.
Gov. Greg Abbott intervened to put a positive spin on Texas' power grid
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott intervened to put a positive spin on Texas' power gridHe's been heavily involved in positive public messaging about the grid’s winter readiness, but the data aren't rosy — and experts fear the grid could fail if there's another winter storm.
Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast
Read full article: Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecastGov. Greg Abbott says he can "guarantee" there won't be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That's the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll.
Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts during severe winter weather, even with new preparations, ERCOT estimates show
Read full article: Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts during severe winter weather, even with new preparations, ERCOT estimates showThe most severe scenario considered by ERCOT for this winter — very high demand for power, extensive fossil fuel outages, and low renewable power production — does not capture the amount of power lost during February.
Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alert
Read full article: Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alertNext year’s primary elections start a year after a winter storm knocked out power across Texas — and the government response to that disaster could be on voters’ minds.
Power companies required to better prepare plants for winter in first phase of rule approved by Texas regulators
Read full article: Power companies required to better prepare plants for winter in first phase of rule approved by Texas regulatorsThe state Public Utility Commission adopted a rule — which experts first recommended a decade ago following a winter storm — requiring power companies to use “best efforts” to ensure plants can operate in the winter.
Oil industry helped handpick members of Texas advisory group for electric grid reliability, emails show
Read full article: Oil industry helped handpick members of Texas advisory group for electric grid reliability, emails showOil and gas industry groups provided a list of names to the Railroad Commission for appointment to a council formed in response to the February power crisis. All four of the industry's top choices were selected.
Texas regulators want to prepare the state’s electricity grid for extreme weather. But that’s a moving target in a warming world.
Read full article: Texas regulators want to prepare the state’s electricity grid for extreme weather. But that’s a moving target in a warming world.The state plans to use past weather data to craft rules for power plant upgrades. Scientists warn that the accelerating effects of climate change make relying on old data alone insufficient.
Texans not expected to lose power through the rest of the summer, regulators say
Read full article: Texans not expected to lose power through the rest of the summer, regulators sayThe state’s electricity regulators said they’re taking steps to assure a skeptical public that the power won’t go out again if Texas experiences extreme weather this summer.
ERCOT will have to release information about power plant outages quicker — but it may not detail what causes them
Read full article: ERCOT will have to release information about power plant outages quicker — but it may not detail what causes themThe Public Utility Commission said the state's main power grid operator will have three days — instead of 60 — to release some information about power plant outages. But that may not include why the electricity generators were offline.
Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid better than ever as Texans asked to cut back electricity use
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid better than ever as Texans asked to cut back electricity useA number of power plants were inexplicably offline at the same time that Texas was experiencing record June demand for electricity. ERCOT officials are still working to determine why.
Analysis: The Texas electric grid and the improvements that didn’t come
Read full article: Analysis: The Texas electric grid and the improvements that didn’t comeTexas lawmakers passed major bills in response to the winter storm power outages that killed hundreds of Texans in February. But there’s still a lot to do.
Everyday Texans overlooked in state lawmakers' response to power outages during winter storm
Read full article: Everyday Texans overlooked in state lawmakers' response to power outages during winter stormWhile lawmakers took significant steps toward preventing another blackout, hardly any of the proposals passed during this legislative session will aid consumers in recovering from the February storm — but they’ll see higher utility bills.
Texas Legislature close to approving billions to pay for winter storm financial fallout
Read full article: Texas Legislature close to approving billions to pay for winter storm financial falloutSeveral billions of dollars in state-approved financing will be necessary to stabilize the state’s distressed energy market after the winter storm. Texas approves more in finance bailouts for its utilities than any other state.
Texas House wants to go further than Senate to protect state’s main power grid as time to agree on bills winds down
Read full article: Texas House wants to go further than Senate to protect state’s main power grid as time to agree on bills winds downThe Texas House could take up its proposal to better prepare for extreme weather as soon as Sunday. The chambers have a little more than a week to wrap up remaining work.
Texas Legislature approves bill to ban residential wholesale electricity plans — the first major winter storm bill sent to the governor
Read full article: Texas Legislature approves bill to ban residential wholesale electricity plans — the first major winter storm bill sent to the governorTime is running out on a slate of other bills lawmakers are considering that stem from February's deadly winter storm.
Gov. Greg Abbott nominates new chair to Public Utility Commission after power crisis resignations
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott nominates new chair to Public Utility Commission after power crisis resignationsGov. Greg Abbott on Monday named Peter Lake the new chair of the Texas Public Utility Commission, the public board that regulates the state’s power grid operators and saw all three of its members resign in the wake of February’s deadly winter storm.
There’s no one left on Texas’ Public Utility Commission after final board member resigns at Gov. Greg Abbott’s request
Read full article: There’s no one left on Texas’ Public Utility Commission after final board member resigns at Gov. Greg Abbott’s requestPublic Utility Commission Chair Arthur D’Andrea has resigned, Gov. D'Andrea was the only remaining member of the three-seat commission that regulates the state's electric, telecommunication and water and sewer utilities. The other two commissioners, including the chair at the time, DeAnn Walker, had resigned in recent weeks over fallout related to last month's winter storm. "Tonight, I asked for and accepted the resignation of PUC Commissioner Arthur D’Andrea," the governor said in a statement, adding that he plans to name "a replacement in the coming days who will have the responsibility of charting a new and fresh course for the agency." “Texans deserve to have trust and confidence in the Public Utility Commission, and this action is one of many steps that will be taken to achieve that goal,” Abbott said.