Texas

Texas power grid enters emergency mode Wednesday evening to avoid rolling blackouts | Houston Public Media

Published

9 months ago

September 7, 2023

Texas power grid enters emergency mode Wednesday evening to avoid rolling blackouts | Houston Public Media

The control room at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texans.

The state’s power grid operator triggered its emergency operations on Wednesday evening, allowing it to call on all available power generation to stay ahead of demand — and bringing it a step closer to a worst-case scenario of ordering rotating power outages.

If the Electric Reliability Council of Texas takes that step, the location and duration of power outages would be controlled by individual electric utilities. For example, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza in San Antonio said last month when conditions looked tight that outages would last between 10 and 15 minutes for their customers.

Representatives for other utilities said the duration of power outages and whether they would rotate would depend on what they hear from ERCOT, which calculates how much demand must be reduced to keep the grid from failing.

Outages would likely be necessary for only a few hours if ERCOT required them on Wednesday night because demand typically falls and wind generation typically rises after sunset. Texas can produce more wind power than any other state.

ERCOT has asked Texans to conserve energy 10 times this month because of the high demand for power as excessive heat has gripped the state. On Wednesday, wind power was forecast to be low.

The afternoon and evening hours tend to be tightest as people return home from work and crank down their thermostats. Solar power generation, which has grown significantly in recent years in Texas, also dwindles as the sun sets.

Grid operators asked power users to cut back their electricity consumption between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday. Power customers can conserve by turning up thermostats a few degrees and refraining from using large appliances such as washing machines and clothes dryers during this period.

ERCOT said it was calling on large power users to reduce their consumption and asking other major U.S. grids to provide what help they could. The ERCOT grid, which serves most of the state, has limited connections to the larger grids that serve the rest of the nation.

The state has broken its power demand record 10 times so far this summer because of economic and population growth and the punishing heat.

Rolling outages remain a rare last resort. ERCOT has not called for them since the devastating February 2021 winter storm, when power was cut to millions of homes over days while extremely cold weather persisted. More than 200 people died.

During that storm, the initial plan to cut power for short periods was abandoned when numerous power generators suddenly failed amid days of subfreezing temperatures, requiring the widespread shutdown of power for days.

People with generators should not use them indoors because they emit deadly carbon monoxide.

You can follow Texas grid conditions here and sign up for emergency alerts here.

Disclosure: CPS Energy has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/06/texas-ercot-power-grid-rolling-blackouts/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org.

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Related Topics:Energy & Environment ERCOT Featured hot weather news texas Texas Power Grid

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Texas

Texas Finalizes Business Court Judges With Houston Selections

Published

5 hours ago

June 14, 2024

Press Room

Texas Finalizes Business Court Judges With Houston Selections

Texas’ new business courts are finalized, with Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Friday filling the Houston division with Grant Dorfman, deputy first assistant to state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), and Sofia Adrogué, a partner with Diamond McCarthy LLP.

The announcements cap a flurry of activity from the governor’s announcement this week. Abbott tapped 10 judges to the business courts, two each in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Houston. He also sent three justices to a new appeals court in Austin that will handle appeals arising from the business courts.

The state legislature at Abbott’s urging created the …

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Texas

Texas Lottery Pick 3 Morning, Pick 3 Day results for June 13, 2024

Published

12 hours ago

June 14, 2024

Press Room

Texas Lottery Pick 3 Morning, Pick 3 Day results for June 13, 2024

The Texas Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at June 13, 2024, results for each game:

Pick 3

Morning: 1-4-5, FIREBALL: 5

Day: 4-1-1, FIREBALL: 2

Evening: 4-8-4, FIREBALL: 7

Night: 6-8-8, FIREBALL: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Morning: 3-0-1-9, FIREBALL: 2

Day: 8-7-9-8, FIREBALL: 0

Evening: 0-4-8-0, FIREBALL: 6

Night: 4-7-6-8, FIREBALL: 8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

All or Nothing

Morning: 02-03-04-05-07-09-13-14-18-20-22-24

Day: 01-02-03-08-09-12-13-15-17-18-22-24

Evening: 01-08-09-10-11-12-13-16-17-18-21-22

Night: 01-04-06-07-09-12-15-16-17-18-20-24

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Cash Five

04-19-26-28-32

Check Cash Five payouts and previous drawings here.

Texas Two Step

04-09-10-34, Bonus: 01

Check Texas Two Step payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Statesman editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Texas

Texas man charged with threatening federal agent: ‘Guns will come out'

Published

19 hours ago

June 14, 2024

Press Room

Texas man charged with threatening federal agent: ‘Guns will come out'

A Texas man was charged with making threats to an FBI agent, according to information provided by the Justice Department on Thursday.

Timothy Muller, 43, of Fort Worth, is alleged to have called an FBI Special Agent and left a threatening voicemail, followed up by subsequent text messages threatening the agent and his family, officials said in a release.

“You can run, but you can’t [expletive] hide,” he allegedly said in a June 11 voicemail. “So here’s how its gonna go: [T’s] gonna win the re-election and then we’re gonna [expletive] go through the FBI and just start throwing you…into jail. OR, you can steal another election and then guns will come out, and we’ll hunt you…down and slaughter you like the traitorous dogs you are in your own [expletive] homes.”

The T refers to former President Donald Trump, according to a source familiar with the case.

The FBI says the agent “was known to have been involved in an investigation into a laptop belonging to H.B.,” who it notes was “convicted following a trial related to a 2018 firearm purchase” shortly before the call. ABC News believes H.B. is Hunter Biden.

The man was charged Thursday with interstate threatening communications and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official.

“The last thing you’ll ever hear are the horrified shrieks or your widow and orphans,” Muller allegedly said, according to the complaint.

The complaint also says the agent, who was involved in a high-profile investigation, received a text message on his phone shortly after the threatening voice message.

“You’re going to jail – if your lucky,” Muller is alleged to have written to the special agent. “But I suspect you won’t be. How’s the family? Safe?”

In a follow-up text, Muller allegedly continued the threatening language.

“Nobody is afraid of you [expletive],” Muller allegedly wrote. “Quite the opposite b—-. We want you so bad we can [expletive] taste it.”

The FBI says it traced the number back to Muller of Fort Worth.

Muller was arrested outside of his home Thursday morning and was detained pending a hearing next week.

A lawyer for Muller didn’t respond to ABC News request for comment.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated.

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