Texas power grid survived arctic blast, but some experts still concerned about its reliability

AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas energy grid survived the arctic blast late final week with no grid-related outages. However some power consultants say grid circumstances have been nonetheless too tight, and could possibly be bother if we see ice or snow the following time round.

ERCOT credited upgrades made to the grid since Winter Storm Uri’s lethal outages almost two years in the past, for guaranteeing the grid’s stability through the current chilly snap.

“I do get the sense that some enchancment has been made,” mentioned Doug Lewin, president of Austin-based Stoic Vitality.

The ERCOT grid did have sufficient energy provide all through the frigid circumstances. Within the Austin space, any outages have been restricted and unrelated to grid circumstances.

In a pair of tweets, Gov. Abbott touted the grid’s stability and reliability, noting: “No Texan has misplaced energy due to any failure by the ERCOT grid.”

In an announcement, ERCOT added it “had further instruments left to deploy ought to further era be wanted.” ERCOT didn’t enter emergency ranges.

“So I do not suppose the takeaway for anyone from this needs to be like, oh, it was actually chilly. The facility did not exit, the whole lot’s mounted,” mentioned Lewin.

Whereas there was sufficient provide, we’re studying demand for energy shattered expectations to the tune of 13,000 additional megawatts statewide on Friday, elevating issues about ERCOT’s skill to precisely predict how a lot energy shall be wanted throughout winter climate.

“That’s an enormous miss,” mentioned Lewin.

Apart from that, ERCOT quietly despatched a letter to Vitality Secretary Jennifer Granholm Friday, asking for an exemption to air pollution limits for energy turbines.

In that letter, ERCOT requested the federal authorities to acknowledge that “an electrical reliability emergency exists throughout the state of Texas,” noting “11,000 MW of thermal… 4,000 MW of wind… and 1,700 MW of photo voltaic items are at present outaged…as a result of [weather] circumstances.”

“That is rather a lot. It isn’t almost as a lot as Uri nevertheless it’s greater than what ERCOT expects of their seasonal evaluation,” mentioned Lewin.

Within the letter, ERCOT advised the feds that as a result of these vegetation went down, “it’s doable that ERCOT might must curtail some quantity of agency load [Friday] night, [Saturday] morning, or probably [Saturday] night or Sunday morning, in an effort to keep the safety of the ERCOT system.”

“That’s trade jargon for ‘there’s vital threat of outages proper now,’” mentioned Lewin.

Concerning the federal order, ERCOT mentioned in an announcement:

“ERCOT took precautionary measures by requesting from the Division of Vitality that producing items throughout the ERCOT interconnection to function as much as their most era output ranges, if wanted. The request would have allowed turbines to promptly reply if circumstances warranted.

The DOE Order was a software to have at our prepared ought to we want it, which we didn’t. ERCOT was by no means in emergency circumstances and had instruments to deploy forward of even utilizing the DOE Order. The Order might solely be used if we have been in emergency circumstances, particularly EEA2 or 3.”

Nonetheless, ERCOT’s assertion didn’t tackle why Texans weren’t introduced into the loop concerning the threat of outages.

“I feel that’s completely inexcusable,” mentioned Lewin. “I imply, they have to keep up a correspondence with individuals and clarify what is going on on.”

Lewin says he believes communication wants to enhance throughout the board, particularly in the case of the grid’s pure gasoline producers.

ERCOT declined FOX 7’s request for an on-camera interview.