Snow and other winter precipitation is expected in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this week, and energy officials say Texas’ power grid can withstand the cold.
Gov. Greg Abbott said at a Jan. 8 news conference in Austin that Texans should contact their local power company if they experience a power outage. Although widespread power outages are unlikely, some people may experience power outages due to falling tree branches or ice forming on power lines, he said.
“The good news is…the power grid looks very strong,” Abbott said. “If there is a loss of power, it is not caused by the power grid. It is caused by some impact on the local power lines, and it is the responsibility of the local power provider to address it.”
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Pablo Vegas, CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the grid, said there is “more than enough power supply to power the state” during the cold snap.
ERCOT announced a “weather watch” from January 6 to 10, citing the cold snap and subsequent high power demand. According to ERCOT, weather watches are not an indication of an emergency or a call for conservation.
Nearly four years after Winter Storm Uri blanketed Texas with snow, leaving millions without power for days and killing nearly 250, lawmakers and energy regulators have enacted reforms to prevent similar disasters. I’ve been doing it.
More than 10,000 megawatts of generating capacity has been added to Texas’ power grid since March, which will reduce the likelihood of future power outages, officials announced Dec. 3. A 2021 state law requires energy providers to “weatherize” their facilities to withstand extreme high temperatures or low temperatures after some power plants shut down during URI.
“More power is being delivered to the grid than ever before,” Las Vegas said on Jan. 8. “Generation and transmission communities can be assured that their facilities can operate safely and perform in events like this.”
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures will be higher this time. Temperatures dropped as low as 6 degrees Fahrenheit in February 2021, but temperatures are expected to rise above freezing every day this week.
Winter precipitation is expected to begin in Dallas-Fort Worth around 6 a.m. on January 9, with low temperatures expected to reach the 20s by late January 10, according to the NWS.
put into perspective
“Over the past week, and in fact all winter long, the generation community, the transmission (and) distribution community has been doing all the work necessary to weatherize and winterize all of our facilities,” said Public Commissioner Thomas.・Mr. Gleason said. Texas Public Utilities Commission. “They are taking special steps to ensure that any vegetation that needs to be cleared and managed is taken care of to minimize the impact on infrastructure in the event of ice on trees.”
In January 2023, Winter Storm Mara coated power lines and trees with ice, knocking out power to at least 170,000 homes in central Texas. More than 2 million people in the Houston area lost power after Hurricane Beryl hit the area last July. In response to Beryl’s damage, state leaders said utility companies must take further steps, such as clearing vegetation to prepare for future storms.
“What happened in the past events … was totally unacceptable,” Abbott said. “We have put extraordinary pressure on all of these power companies to ensure that they clear vegetation that could cause downed power lines. Oncor, which serves much of the affected North Texas area, has been very active in the last week or two ahead of this storm, redoubling its efforts to clear vegetation. .”
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Texas Emergency Management Agency Director Nim Kidd said Texans should avoid unnecessary travel during the winter storm.
“My biggest concern right now is people going out on the roads because temperatures will rise to below freezing during the day and the moisture on the ground will refreeze at night,” Kidd said. he said. “If you can’t see where you’re driving, the roads can be very dangerous.”
Abbott said motorists stuck on icy roads should call 1-800-525-5555 for roadside assistance. This number is also located on the back of all Texas driver’s licenses.
The Texas Department of Transportation has been pre-treating the state’s roads since January 3, according to TxDOT Deputy Administrator Brian Barth.
“We believe that pre-treatment with a water and salt brine solution really helps manage ice buildup,” Barth says. “So, one, it prevents ice from building up, and two, it prevents that ice from sticking to the pavement if it does build up.”
TxDOT is also sending crews from south Texas, which is expected to be unaffected by the storm, to help manage road conditions in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Officials said spectators should still be able to attend the Cotton Bowl Classic, the playoff game between the University of Texas at Austin and Ohio State. The game will be held on January 10th in Arlington.
“With the potential for snow or ice on all interstates and roads leading into the DFW area, Interstate 35, Interstate 20, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area, everyone should drive safer. “That’s very important,” Abbott said. “If you are very careful, drive slowly and methodically, everything will be fine.”
final point
Officials said protecting lives and keeping the public safe during the winter storm is paramount.
“We also ask that you have blankets in your home, that you have enough food, that you have enough water, and that you know the phone number of your local power company to get information about when the power will be out. “I might come back,” Kidd said.
