Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) News

Texas Grid Operator to Argue It Is Immune from Winter Storm Lawsuits

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas will argue that it has governmental immunity that protects it from the at least 35 lawsuits that have been filed against the operator after February’s disastrous winter storm which killed dozens of people and …

Texas Legislation Would Overhaul State’s Electricity Market, Require Weatherization

The Texas Senate has unanimously approved a sweeping bill that would overhaul the state’s electricity industry and infrastructure, including mandating that power plants prepare for extreme weather and outlawing risky indexed retail electric plans. Senate Bill 3, filed by Republican …

Study: Nearly 70% of ERCOT Customers Lost Power During Texas Winter Storm

Last month’s disastrous and deadly winter storm impacted most Texans served by the state’s main power grid, with almost 70% of those people losing power in subfreezing temperatures and almost half experiencing a water outage, according to a new report …

More Fallout from February Blackouts: Last Texas Power Regulator Resigns

The last Texas regulator on the Public Utility Commission at the time of the deadly February blackouts has resigned, Gov. Greg Abbott announced. In a statement issued on March 16, Abbott said he had asked for and accepted the resignation …

Texas Power Company Seeks Bankruptcy Protection; Others Likely to Follow

The largest and oldest power cooperative in Texas is filing for bankruptcy protection, citing February’s winter storm that left millions without power, and it is unlikely to be the last utility to seek shelter in the courts. Brazos Electric Power …

Risk Management (or Lack Thereof) and Texas’ Deep Freeze Energy Failures

While renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels fuel a fraction of the state’s energy grid, the bulk of Texas’ power is supplied by natural gas, coal and nuclear plants, with natural gas power plants generating nearly …

$1B Class-Action Suit Filed Against Texas Wholesale Electricity Provider, Griddy

A Chambers County, Texas, resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against electricity retailer Griddy, accusing the provider of price gouging customers during last week’s freeze. She is seeking $1 billion in relief for affected customers. Attorneys for Lisa Khoury said …

Mother of 11-Year-Old Who Died in Texas Freeze Sues Power Companies for $100M

The mother of an 11-year-old boy who died after they lost electricity and heat in their Texas mobile home during last week’s freeze has filed a $100 million lawsuit against two power companies for gross negligence. Maria Pineda said the …

Texas Leaders Failed to Heed Warnings About Vulnerability of Power Grid, Experts Say

Millions of Texans have gone days without power or heat in subfreezing temperatures brought on by snow and ice storms. Limited regulations on companies that generate power and a history of isolating Texas from federal oversight help explain the crisis, …