Texas Power Systems Recover from Arctic Blast as Temperatures Rise

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--And just like that, it was warm again. As of Monday, all power power units in Texas that were impacted by last week's big freeze were up and running again, according to Industrial Info's outage event database.

This is a far cry from last week, when Industrial Info was tracking outages at more than 100 power units across the Lone Star State, amounting to more than 22,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity.



The outages ranged from fuel-oil-fired power units with a capacity of 2 MW to two coal-fired units capable of generating 1,796 MW at Oak Grove Management Company LLC's (Dallas, Texas) Oak Grove Generating Station north of Franklin, Texas. Plant profile: 1002706.

Last week's brutal weather impacted power plants with fuel sources including coal, fuel oil, natural gas and nuclear, such as Exelon Corporation's (NYSE:EXC) (Chicago, Illinois) natural-gas-fired Wolf Hollow power stations in Granbury, Texas (Plant profile: 3371746), and the South Texas Project Nuclear Generating Station in Bay City, Texas. Plant profile:1000057.

The worst winter storm in decades had left millions of Lone Star State residents in the cold, sometimes for days, sparking outrage among consumers, and causing state and local leaders to demand answers from grid operators and utility providers as to how the Texas power system could be so vulnerable.

Texas has long sidestepped federal oversight of its power grid through its own grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). But Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and other officials harshly criticized ERCOT for its handling of the crisis, including its decision early Monday to start rotating power outages to manage the skyrocketing demand. For more information, see February 17, 2021, article -- UPDATED LIST: Texas Wrestles with Continued Power Outages as Generators Struggle with Demand.

On Friday, February 19, ERCOT said it would end emergency conditions and return to normal operating conditions, as no additional outages were needed to keep power supply and electric demand in balance.

CenterPoint Energy, which provides power in the Houston, Texas, area, said on Friday that it had restored power to about 1.39 million customers out of the 1.4 million who were hit by outages.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.