Time to Read: 5 minutes
Date: March 23, 2023
Four Minutes and Thirty-Seconds Away from Total Collapse? That’s a Little Too Close for This Texas Writer
It’s officially been 2 full years since Winter Storm Uri, and Texans are still dealing with power outages. Despite the ERCOT nodal protocols used to improve Texas power grid conditions, blackouts are still a huge problem. So what exactly is going on? And what does the future of a growing Texas look like with traditional power supplied from the Texas power grid?
In this article, we’re going to explore many of the reasons that, despite changes to the Texas power grid, widespread power outages are still a problem. We’ll begin by covering the changes that have already been made to the Texas power grid, and then go over why these outages are still happening.
How has the Texas Power Grid Changed?
In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri caused massive blackouts and the Texas Power grid was mere four minutes and 37 seconds from absolute collapse. This means that Texas would have had to deal with widespread loss of electricity for months while repairs were made. After this event, it became clear that changes needed to be made. So what improvements were made?
- Additional generators were added. This increased the Texas power grid’s capacity. While this does indeed improve the grid’s resilience in the face of extreme weather, the price of gas used to power these generators is part of the reason that electricity bills have increased.
- Generators have been weatherized. Improving the ability of the power generators (in this case the companies and organizations that create electricity) to withstand extreme temperatures have improved the durability of the Texas power grid.
Why are These Power Outages Still Happening During Extreme Weather?
Several things factor into why these power outages are still happening. In several cases, it doesn’t have much to do with the Texas power grid, but with other parts of the electrical infrastructure for transferring power. In many instances, the power outage that Texans are experiencing are local outages rather than a grid outage.
- Power lines are more vulnerable to extreme weather. Extreme weather affects the lines that transfer power to your home. The cold snaps that Texas experienced this past winter left residents in Austin and Dallas without power. Much of this is due to heavy ice taking down power lines. There have been large pushes to weatherize things like power lines and other things that are necessary to transfer power.
- Fallen trees knock out power lines. Whenever there is a heavy winter storm or a large amount of ice or snow builds up on trees, older ones will end up falling on power lines. Large limbs will break off and also damage the lines carrying electricity to Texans. Though legislation has been passed to weatherize structures, some equipment isn’t designed to deal with extreme weather. Texas has transmission lines that need weatherizing in some areas. However, because these transmission lines have been installed above ground rather than beneath it, they remain vulnerable to falling tree limbs.
- Car accidents due to ice on roads. In some cases, slick roads caused by ice can indirectly cause power outages when car accidents occur when drivers unfortunately slide into electric poles.
- High heat causes line expansion. During the summer when heatwaves are in full swing, the metals used in transmission lines expand. This is what causes lines to droop. Once a line has drooped too low, it could come into contact with other lines. If a line breaks or contacts another line, it could cause it to short circuit and places more work on the other lines.
What Does the Future of Texas Look Like With the Power Grid?
The grid has improved, but power outages are still happening. Local power outages are still happening. On top of that, the cost of natural gas still raises electricity prices for Texans. While the Texas power grid can still improve beyond what it currently is, you needed a reliable solution to power outages yesterday. The good news is that IES Texas Solar has exactly what you need.
Power Outages Don’t Have to be Your Problem – Take Four Minutes and Thirty Six Seconds to Book an Appointment Today!
Installing solar panels with backup batteries is the best way to keep your home running when power outages occur. If you want even more stability for whenever an outage happens, you can install a generac home standby generator. As long as it has been properly sized by a professional, these generators can keep your home running for as long as you need. Reach out to your solar consultant today!
We have made it our mission to be a source of truth in renewable energy. Our team believes that accurate solar and backup power education is the foundation for making the best decision when choosing a system that fits your needs.
If you are considering installing a backup generator or switching to solar for your home or business, reach out to us by going to our website, iestxsolar.com, or by giving us a call at (855) 447-6527.
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