Texas power grid faces test as temperatures continue to drop. Can it last?

HOUSTON, Texas – As winter approaches, Texans are wondering if the state, especially the Houston area, is ready for the cold months ahead.

With an arctic blast this week and temperatures dropping into the low 20s in some areas, KPRC 2 Investigates reached out to experts like Charles McConnell and Daniel Cohan and received updates from CenterPoint Energy and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on their plans to keep the lights on, not just this season, but for the future.

ERCOT has issued a weather watch until Friday, but has not asked Texans to reduce power use.

“ERCOT is closely monitoring winter weather conditions,” a statement read. “ERCOT issued a Weather Watch on Monday, which is a heads-up that we are experiencing higher demand due to the weather conditions with the possibility of lower operating reserves. At this time, grid conditions are normal and expected to remain normal. ERCOT will provide updates to the public if conditions change.”

This week’s weather pattern brings back memories of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, when an arctic blast brought snow, ice and sub-freezing temperatures to Texas, nearly collapsing the state’s grid. The storm caused widespread power outages, left millions in the dark and cold for days, claimed hundreds of lives and led to significant changes in the state’s grid operations.

Since then, ERCOT says it has made several improvements to ensure reliability during extreme weather, including improved weather formation and forecasting models. They encourage people to stay informed through their dashboards and social media. Some important improvements include

Weather control and inspections: ERCOT enters its fourth season of winter weather inspections with increased demands on generation and transmission facilities.

Firm Fuel Supply Service (FFSS): This service provides an additional source of on-site fuel for generators, offering redundancy in the event of natural gas shortages.

Planned maintenance period: ERCOT has coordinated with generators and transmission operators to schedule off-season maintenance.

Forecast improvements: Efforts to reduce forecast errors include obtaining additional forecasts and developing extreme cold stress forecast models.

ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service (ECRS): Added in June 2023, ECRS uses resources that can start within 10 minutes to address unexpected changes in supply or demand.

Fast frequency response service: This service was introduced in 2022 and utilizes resources that respond faster.

Map of critical supply chain and infrastructure: Created in 2022 to share locations and connectivity for critical Texas power infrastructure.

Improved communication between agencies: Improved communication through the Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Energy Reliability Council.

Transparent communication: In May 2023, ERCOT launched the Texas Advisory and Notification System (TXANS) for real-time grid updates, available in Spanish.

CenterPoint Energy is also actively preparing for the cold, inspecting and testing cold weather equipment, coordinating emergency plans with utility partners and working with ERCOT on joint drills.

“CenterPoint Energy continues to actively monitor potential severe cold weather expected to affect the Greater Houston area over the coming days,” the company stated.

They have a cold weather action plan in place and are ready to respond to potential service issues.

Amid ongoing concerns about the grid, the idea of ​​bringing more nuclear power to Texas has sparked debate.

Charles McConnell, who heads the Center for Carbon Management and Energy at the University of Houston and is also the former assistant secretary of energy for the US Department of Energy under Obama, is excited about future energy technologies.

“It’s really important that we put a stake in the ground in terms of the kind of energy that’s going to be important for the future,” McConnell said. He believes that Texas is well-suited to lead in nuclear energy development because of its resources and regulations.

On the other hand, energy systems expert and Rice University professor Daniel Cohan argues that nuclear energy is not a top priority for Texas right now. He suggests that solar, wind, batteries and natural gas are more practical and cost-effective.

“Nuclear power is one of the most expensive options that I could imagine how you can back up the variable output of wind and solar,” Cohan said.

Since nuclear power won’t be available until at least the 2030s, he believes Texas should focus on more immediate solutions to meet its growing power needs.

Listen to KPRC 2 News at 6 and 6 p.m. Thursday, when investigative reporter Robert Arnold will break down the plan to implement nuclear power in Texas.