As winter approaches, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has assured Texans that the state’s power grid is better prepared to handle extreme cold than in previous years.
During a board meeting on Tuesday, ERCOT officials discussed upgrades made to the grid and ongoing efforts to prevent outages like those seen during Winter Storm Uri in 2021, reported KERA News. However, they warned that the potential for severe weather events remains a concern.
ERCOT meteorologist Chris Coleman forecasted above-average temperatures this winter but highlighted a higher-than-normal likelihood of extreme cold events. He noted that such extremes have become more frequent despite overall warming trends in Texas.
“Five of the last eight winters, we’ve had temperatures that met extreme thresholds,” Coleman stated. He also noted similarities between current atmospheric and oceanic conditions and those preceding the devastating 2021 storm.
Since last winter, over 10,000 megawatts of new power generation capacity, including solar, wind, natural gas, and electricity storage, have been added to the grid.
ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said these additions have significantly reduced the risk of grid emergencies, with the probability of outages during peak demand dropping from 11.6% last winter to 8.7% this year. Solar and power storage additions alone surpassed what many states achieve in a year, providing a crucial buffer during high-demand periods.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain.
Winter demand for electricity has reached record-breaking levels, with 78,349 megawatts consumed in January. Additionally, solar and wind power output tends to decline during colder months, placing greater reliance on natural gas and other traditional energy sources. ERCOT has bolstered weatherization efforts, inspecting nearly 3,000 facilities to ensure compliance with standards enacted after the 2021 disaster.
Gov. Greg Abbott expressed confidence in the state’s preparedness, citing new legislation to strengthen the grid and the expanding energy supply.
“We are working nonstop to make sure the power stays on regardless of what type of winter storm hits,” Abbott said during a press conference. He emphasized the state’s commitment to avoiding a repeat of 2021, which saw millions of Texans lose power and nearly 250 lives lost.
Still, ERCOT acknowledged that extreme weather could test even the improved grid.
During Winter Storm Uri, freezing temperatures immobilized natural gas supplies, wind turbines, and power plant equipment, leading to widespread outages. Vegas stressed that while progress has been made, the grid remains vulnerable to prolonged and severe conditions.
As Texas braces for potential cold snaps, residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepared. ERCOT’s advancements provide hope for a more resilient grid, but the coming months will serve as the ultimate test of these efforts.