ERCOT

After the snow and ice of February 2021 had melted and power and water service finally returned, catastrophe turned to criticism. Lawmakers and power providers have since gone to work in hopes that it doesn't happen again.

It’s an event that those of us around Texas will likely remember for the rest of our lives: The Big Freeze of February 2021.

Tens of thousands of Austin households and businesses went days without electricity after a winter storm wreaked havoc across Texas.

Friends in North Austin removed downed trees from neighbors’ roofs, while closer to the city core, volunteers rushed to meet the immediate needs of people without homes — those most severely impacted by the freezing temperatures.

The outages, which began at 9 a.m. Thursday, will mostly affect the unincorporated community of Cross Mountain.

At least one person died in the freezing weather. High demand for electricity is forecast to continue into Saturday.

Gov. Greg Abbott is holding a news conference on Wednesday morning ahead of the hard freeze that’s expected to hit Texas on Thursday afternoon.

A savage Arctic cold front is on its way, and Christmas may not be white, but it is going to be extremely cold.

As a series of cold fronts are expected to pass through Texas, ERCOT officials report they are closely monitoring the weather forecast and models. According to ERCOT officials, ERCOT expects there to be sufficient generation to meet forecast demand and will continue to provide updates. As we monitor weather conditions, we want to assure Texans that the grid is resilient and reliable,” said Pablo Vegas, ERCOT president and CEO. Severe weather conditions in February 2021 nearly caused the electrical grid to collapse. The Texas Health and Human Services Department in a statistical report stated the deaths of at least 100 individuals were linked to the winter freeze.

The leaders of Texas’ top utilities say the grid is stable enough to handle the state’s demand for the winter season.

The proposal is aimed at making sure power providers and electricity generators have enough power on hand in case of increased demand. But it’s not clear how it would hold up in unexpected weather, an expert said.

The report contradicts Gov. Greg Abbott's claims about the strength of the state's electric grid.

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has closed its criminal inquiry into power outages related last year’s deadly winter storm without filing any charges, BCSO officials confirmed Monday.

The report hits with Texas still reckoning with the causes and effects of 2020's catastrophic Winter Storm Uri.

The governor shared the favorable forecast — which is normal for the fall months — ahead of a competitive race in which the grid’s performance during last year’s fatal winter storm may factor into Texans’ decisions at the polls.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas has named a non-Texan as its new CEO.

With energy consumption high this summer and the cost of fuel used to create electricity also up, Texans are seeing higher utility bills. An energy fellow at the University of Houston explains why those bills are going up.

CPS blamed the higher bills on record demand from the summer heat and expensive natural gas.

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas manages the state’s electricity grid, which is independent of the two other national grids in the U.S.

High temperatures in Texas are stressing the power infrastructure, but the state grid might not be to blame if your home loses electricity.

Power outages are a possibility during any severe weather event. But a local power outage is different from a larger power grid problem.

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell and Patrick about the power grid, the race for governor and the extra money the Texas Legislature will have on hand to spend next year.

In an interview with the Houston Chronicle, ERCOT Interim president and CEO Brad Jones said forecasters for the organization did not anticipate the extreme heat and projected on the hottest day of summer that the grid demand would reach 77,300 megawatts.

The ERCOT dashboard is a helpful tool for Texans looking at energy information. But what does it all mean?

The Energy Reliability Council of Texas is once again asking Texans to conserve energy on Wednesday as record heat and high power demand continue across the state.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] Breaking News, News, News - Mobile, News Alert San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is urging Texans to conserve energy on Wednesday as triple-digit temperatures are once again in the forecast.

O'Rourke made the remarks during a roundtable discussion with filmmaker, activist and Texas native Eugene Lee Yang, who's making a film called "This Is Texas."

Flames at a CPS Energy substation intensified Monday’s weather conditions in San Antonio, cutting off power to thousands on the South Side for hours.

Temperatures are expected to reach 108 degrees.

Texas residents worry about blackouts as ERCOT pleads for power conservation on Monday.

ERCOT is urging Texas to conserve energy on Monday, as we are expected to see extreme temperatures again.

The Energy Reliability Council of Texas is asking Texans to conserve energy on Monday amid record heat and high power demand.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] Breaking News, News, News - Mobile, News Alert San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

The state’s power regulator warned late Sunday night of a “reserve capacity shortage” on Monday afternoon that could lead to some outages, and asked the public for conservation. The critical time for conservation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., ERCOT said in a news release. “Conservation is a reliability tool ERCOT has deployed more than four dozen times since 2008 to successfully manage grid operations. This notification is issued when projected reserves may fall below 2300 MW for 30 minutes or more,” the release states. “ERCOT continues to use all tools available to manage the grid effectively and reliably, including using reserve power and calling upon large electric customers who have volunteered to lower their energy use,” the release added.

CPS Energy customers are frustrated with their recent energy bills, saying this is the last thing they need on top of high gas prices and inflation.

Tuesday could break Monday's record, which stood for one week

Texas' power grid is being put to the test – and it's not summer yet.

The state’s grid operater was able to maintain supply without needing to call for any conservation.

ERCOT predicts the statewide energy demand will be record-breaking this Friday, with demand expected to hit 77 Gigawatts. CPS Energy officials say they’re ready to meet growing demand.

The recent heatwave has many people concerned about whether the Texas power grid can keep up with the demand and usage as we head into the summer.

CPS Energy says it will have a higher than usual margin of reserve power this summer as San Antonio faces record-breaking heat and drought.

ERCOT, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas who operates the power grid for the state, is expected to talk to the media this afternoon about its summer assessment on power usage.

After six power facilities went offline Friday, the state’s main power grid operator is asking residents across the state to conserve power this weekend amid sweltering temperatures.

Texas is about to get very hot with the weather forecasted to hit triple digits this weekend in many areas across the state, including San Antonio.

After 2021’s winter storm electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers worked to shore up the state’s electric grid. But they’re not finished, despite what you might hear from campaigning politicians.

Keep your coats nearby. We're not out of winter weather just yet.

The first really cold weather of the year came and went without straining the state’s electric grid — a welcome relief for voters and for politicians, who didn’t want a repeat of 2021's winter blackouts.

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell and James about how Texas held up during the wintry weather, plus the struggles of the National Guard during their border deployment.

Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a news conference following his briefing with statewide officials about the response to the second day of the winter storm.

Watch live here.

In the wake of last year's freeze, CPS Energy says it has spent $2 million on preparing its power plants -- built to operate in Texas summers -- to hold up and keep operating in the freezing cold, too.

Texas faces a new winter storm a year after a deadly freeze left millions without power. Here’s the latest.

Although this week’s strong cold front won’t be as extreme as last year's freeze, families should still prepare.

From the winter storm and the Astroworld tragedy to new Texas laws and trash diving in the River Walk, these are the stories y’all read most this year.

While February’s deadly winter storm not only left hundreds of thousands of San Antonio residents without power in subfreezing temperatures, some for days on end, it also exposed a large number of organizational issues within CPS Energy, the largest public power company in the nation.

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell, James and Karen about the status of the power grid and the pandemic heading into winter.

Gov. Greg Abbott says he can "guarantee" there won't be blackouts this winter in Texas after one that knocked out power for some people for four days last February. That's the kind of pre-election prediction that can make a weather forecaster more useful than a political poll.

We want to hear from Texans about how this catastrophic event is still affecting their lives.

The most severe scenario considered by ERCOT for this winter — very high demand for power, extensive fossil fuel outages, and low renewable power production — does not capture the amount of power lost during February.

CPS Energy has completed about a third of all the winterization recommendations made to it by the CEP, a CPS Energy official said Monday.

A huge swath of

You don’t want to miss the next Dynamic Learning Institute session, 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, at Dietert Center.

Congressman Chip Roy was the guest speaker at this month’s meeting of the Hill Country Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, which took place Sept. 14 the

The cities of Kerrville and Ingram, and Kerr County, received more sales tax revenue this month than in any previous September.

The man accused of killing Terry Ingram and Patricia Kutzer near Comfort in 2003 is set for a jury trial this week at the Kerr County Courthouse.

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

The Kerr County Stockshow Association will present its 38th annual fundraiser today (Saturday, Sept. 25) at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 Texas 27 in Kerrville.

At 9 a.m. sharp Friday morning outside the front doors of the Y.O. Ranch Hotel and Restaurant, Kerrville resident Roger “Cowboy” Mead addressed the thirty-some-odd U.S. military veterans gathered for

The Kerr Economic Development Corporation, a private nonprofit that works to ensure diversified economic growth for new and existing businesses in Kerr County, announced it received four top communication awards

Schreiner University announced at a press conference on Friday that they will receive a $5 million grant for a five-year science, technology, engineering and mathematics grant from the Texas Department

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha has formed a new team at his agency: the Special Operations Division, headed by Lt. Jason Waldrip, a former state trooper.

Schreiner University announced they will receive a $5 million grant for a five-year science, technology, engineering and mathematics grant from the Texas Department of Education.

It was hard to miss Jimmy Ray Wong’s setup in the Walmart parking lot.

The Kerrville Daily Times has partnered with SouthStar Bank to launch a campaign to honor U.S. military veterans in Kerr County. The campaign is expected to draw a lot of

The Healing Hearts Fiesta Style Show Luncheon and Auction fundraiser brought in more than $30,000, plus proceeds from tickets and the silent and live auctions for the Hill Country Youth

Cub Scout packs serving families in Kerrville will hold their annual Fall Signup at two elementary schools in Kerrville Independent School District, Nimitz and Starkey Elementary school cafeterias.

Eugene “Gene” Dowdy has accepted the position of Director of Music for Schreiner University.

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

Criticism for Gov. Greg Abbott’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the influx of migrants at the southern U.S. border abounded at an event held over the weekend at the

A court on Monday ordered the city of Ingram’s secretary, Stephanie Breckenridge, to testify under oath in ongoing litigation involving a wastewater system project.

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

Kerr County has initiated a campaign to convince voters of the need to borrow money for various capital projects, such as a renovated indoor arena at the Hill Country Youth

A 29-year-old Kerrville woman was in the county jail Friday on suspicion of striking a police officer with a baton and biting another officer.

For those families whose loved ones are still missing in action, there’s still hope for closure, according to a guest speaker at a Friday ceremony to honor POW/MIA Recognition Day.

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

I will do my part to conserve household energy usage, even if I'm uncomfortable in my home. It is too hot to conserve household energy usage. I already conserve, even before ERCOT requested it. Maybe, depending on the reason ERCOT provides and whether or not I am home during that time. VoteView Results

It’s been six months since the deadly February winter storm left millions across the state without power for days, and many questions about what went wrong remain unanswered. The KSAT Explains team and the Defenders have been closely following the fallout of the storm. We take a look at four things we've learned so far.

Airing at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17: A special collaboration between KSAT Explains and the Defenders

Senate bills 2 and 3 were heralded by Texas Gov. Abbott as the antidote to February’s deadly power outages. Here’s what they do.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) released a new plan Tuesday to address improvements and outline reforms to the Texas Power Grid, according to a news release.

The Committee on Emergency Preparedness presented its analysis of what went wrong during the extended freezing temperatures and how the city and its utilities could prepare better next time.

The Public Utility Commission said the state's main power grid operator will have three days — instead of 60 — to release some information about power plant outages. But that may not include why the electricity generators were offline.

On Monday, ERCOT requested Texans turn their thermostats up to 78 degrees and higher to conserve energy because, once again, the power grid is not working as it should.

“This is the sort of weather that a well-functioning Texas power grid should have no trouble meeting,” Cohan said. “These shouldn’t be such close calls.”

A number of power plants were inexplicably offline at the same time that Texas was experiencing record June demand for electricity. ERCOT officials are still working to determine why.

This Texas heat has been barbecuing us all, especially with the recent ERCOT news. The heat has been so bad that it’s got everyone in a heated mood.

The Bexar County Office of Emergency Management has opened eight cooling centers to help residents get a reprieve from the heat, as ERCOT and CPS Energy have asked people to reduce electric use.