CPS Energy wants to close 3 gas-powered plants in San Antonio by 2025. ERCOT says theyโre vital to the Texas grid.
CPS Energy wants to close three gas plants they say cost too much money and are old. ERCOT fights back saying they are needed to help sustain the Texas power grid.
ERCOT issues Weather Watch for Wednesday
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a Weather Watch for Wednesday due to anticipated high temperatures, high levels of expected maintenance outage and the potential for low reserves.
Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texasโ open market deliver?
Years in the making, the transition from a municipal electric company to an open market has left some residents unsure.
ERCOT president, CEO: Conservation, preparation reasons why grid held firm during freezing temps this week
Pablo Vegas, president and CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said preparation and planning were among the reasons the grid held firm.
ERCOT asks Texans to conserve electricity, expects โtight grid conditionsโ due to freezing temperatures
ERCOT is requesting safe conservation efforts on Tuesday morning from 6-9 a.m.
Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid prepared for arctic front, asks Texans to plan now for freezing temperatures
Gov. Greg Abbott stressed the reliability of the Texas power grid as an arctic front takes aim at Texas, and asked people to take precautions now as some parts of the state will be below freezing for more than 72 hours.
ERCOTโs Weather Watch for Texas lasts until Wednesday due to arctic cold front
The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas adjusted its Weather Watch to begin on Sunday, Jan. 14, through Wednesday, Jan. 17.
ERCOT asks customers to reduce electric use, but canโt force action
ERCOT and local energy companies have been alerting Texans to reduce their energy use during peak hours, but other than asking politely, thereโs not much they can do to force people to comply.
ERCOT ends Energy Emergency Alert Level 2, asks residents to reduce electric use
CPS Energy said it would return to its Yellow Alert after ERCOTโs Energy Emergency Alert Level 2 has been discontinued. ERCOT said Wednesday night that it would move to Energy Emergency Alert Level 1.
ERCOT issues Weather Watch for Wednesday-Friday as scorching summer heat continues
The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas issued a Weather Watch for Wednesday thru Friday due to forecasted higher temperatures, higher electrical demand, and the potential for lower reserves.
How ERCOT is narrowly getting through an extreme summer โ and how experts say it could do better
Record-high power demand and faltering electricity sources have tested the grid in the past month, forcing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to dig deep into its toolbox to keep power flowing.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Wednesday due to low wind generation, thermal generation outages
Texans are being asked to conserve energy Wednesday evening as tight grid conditions are expected to continue, according to ERCOT.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Tuesday due to low wind generation, thermal generation outages
ERCOT is requesting Texans to conserve energy on Tuesday evening as tight grid conditions are expected.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Sunday due to low solar generation, high demand
ERCOT and CPS Energy are urging Texans to conserve their energy use on Saturday evening due to the expectation for tight grid conditions.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Saturday amid expectation for tight grid conditions
ERCOT is urging Texans to conserve their energy use Saturday afternoon and evening due to the expectation for tight grid conditions.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Friday amid expectation for tight grid conditions
ERCOT is urging Texans to conserve their energy use on Friday evening due to the expectation for tight grid conditions.
ERCOT issues conservation appeal for Thursday amid expectation for tight grid conditions
Due to low wind-power generation and high demand, operating reserves for ERCOT are expected to be low for several hours Thursday, prompting an appeal for Texans to conserve electricity use, from 3-10 p.m.
Texans asked to reduce energy use again as ongoing heat wave strains power grid
The latest conservation request from ERCOT โ the third in the past week โ sought to reduce power demand from 3 to 10 p.m. Thursday.
ERCOT Weather Watch to remain in effect for Texas as 100-plus-degree heat wonโt let up
The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas has extended a Weather Watch for a second consecutive week due to 100-plus-degree high temperatures, higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves.
ERCOT issues Weather Watch for Texas amid record heat in forecast
The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas has issued a Weather Watch due to high temperatures, higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves
ERCOT canโt be sued over power grid failures during 2021 winter storm, Texas Supreme Court rules
The all-Republican court narrowly found that the nonprofit corporation operating the stateโs electrical grid qualifies for sovereign immunity, which protects government entities from lawsuits.
ERCOT asks people to reduce electricity Tuesday saying Texas could see record demand
ERCOT is asking Texans to voluntarily reduce electricity use from 4โ 8 p.m. Tuesday due to extreme temperatures and forecasted record demand.
Texas called for energy conservation Tuesday as extreme heat spiked electricity demand
Texans were asked to conserve energy from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday as temperatures climb over 100 degrees for much of the state.
ERCOT issues Weather Watch as high temperatures lead to rise in electrical demand
The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas issued a weather watch Tuesday that will be effective late this week to early next, from June 15 to June 21.
Abbott appointee resigns as chair of power grid regulator
Public Utility Commission chair Peter Lake had spearheaded a plan to help the stateโs power grid withstand weather disasters, but the plan lacked support in the Texas Legislature.
ERCOT president presents plan to keep Texans up to date on power grid conditions
Electric Reliability Council of Texas officials are set to give an update to Texans regarding the reliability of the stateโs power grid.
Whatโs changed since February 2021 to prevent another power grid failure? KSAT Explains
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.
LOOK BACK: Itโs been 2 years since Texasโ devastating winter storm of February 2021
Itโs an event that those of us around Texas will likely remember for the rest of our lives: The Big Freeze of February 2021.
How freezing rain, tree-lined neighborhoods and above-ground power lines prolonged Austin power outages
Tens of thousands of Austin households and businesses went days without electricity after a winter storm wreaked havoc across Texas.
Chainsaws and dry socks: Austinites step up for neighbors during ice storm
Friends in North Austin removed downed trees from neighborsโ roofs, while closer to the city core, volunteers rushed to meet the immediate needs of people without homes โ those most severely impacted by the freezing temperatures.
WATCH: Gov. Greg Abbott, state utility leaders say power grid โready and reliableโ for hard freeze
Gov. Greg Abbott is holding a news conference on Wednesday morning ahead of the hard freeze thatโs expected to hit Texas on Thursday afternoon.
State agency proposes changes to power market aimed at averting mass blackouts
The proposal is aimed at making sure power providers and electricity generators have enough power on hand in case of increased demand. But itโs not clear how it would hold up in unexpected weather, an expert said.
BCSO: No charges to be filed after criminal probe into 2021 winter storm outages
The Bexar County Sheriffโs Office has closed its criminal inquiry into power outages related last yearโs deadly winter storm without filing any charges, BCSO officials confirmed Monday.
Gov. Greg Abbott touts Texas power gridโs readiness heading into fall, election season
The governor shared the favorable forecast โ which is normal for the fall months โ ahead of a competitive race in which the gridโs performance during last yearโs fatal winter storm may factor into Texansโ decisions at the polls.
Thereโs an explanation for your skyrocketing energy bill
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.
How to know the difference between a local power outage and rolling blackouts
Power outages are a possibility during any severe weather event. But a local power outage is different from a larger power grid problem.
TribCast: Are there signs of life for Beto OโRourkeโs campaign?
In this weekโs 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.
ERCOT CEO concerned about older machinesโ reliability in Texas summer heat, report says
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.
ERCOT urges Texans, businesses to conserve energy Wednesday amid sizzling heat
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas is urging Texans to conserve energy on Wednesday as triple-digit temperatures are once again in the forecast.
Fire at CPS Energy substation leads to power outages for thousands on South Side
Flames at a CPS Energy substation intensified Mondayโs weather conditions in San Antonio, cutting off power to thousands on the South Side for hours.
CPS Energy customers frustrated with record-breaking bills during summer months
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.
โMore than enough energyโ: CPS Energy prepares for potential record-breaking demand
ERCOT predicts the statewide energy demand will be record-breaking this Friday, with demand expected to hit 77 Gigawatts. CPS Energy officials say theyโre ready to meet growing demand.
Can Texas power grid withstand the heat? Energy expert weighs in as scorching summer approaches
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.
WATCH LIVE: ERCOT holds briefing on summer power assessment
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.
ERCOT asks Texans to conserve power after 6 power facilities go offline Friday
After six power facilities went offline Friday, the stateโs main power grid operator is asking residents across the state to conserve power this weekend amid sweltering temperatures.
ERCOT asks power plants to postpone planned outages to meet demand of extreme heat anticipated this weekend
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.
Analysis: Whatever the campaigns say, the Texas electric grid isnโt fixed yet
After 2021โs winter storm electric blackouts, Texas lawmakers worked to shore up the stateโs electric grid. But theyโre not finished, despite what you might hear from campaigning politicians.
Ex-ERCOT chief testifies that Gov. Abbottโs order led to energy price hike during storm: report
While testifying in a bankruptcy trial for a Texas electric co-op, the stateโs former grid manager said Gov. Greg Abbottโs directive led them to keep power price points high during last yearโs winter storm, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Analysis: โNothing to see hereโ is good news for Texans and for incumbent politicians
The first really cold weather of the year came and went without straining the stateโs electric grid โ a welcome relief for voters and for politicians, who didnโt want a repeat of 2021's winter blackouts.
TribCast: The Texas power grid fares better in 2022โs winter storm
In this weekโs 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.
Power grid is stable, governor says, but freezing temperatures will continue affecting roadways
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.
โWe have done everything in our powerโ: CPS Energy says it is ready for winter weather
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.
Winter storm issues exposed a cascade of scandals at CPS Energy in 2021
While Februaryโs 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.
TribCast: Texas braces for the next winter storm and a new COVID-19 variant
In this weekโs episode, Matthew speaks with Mitchell, James and Karen about the status of the power grid and the pandemic heading into winter.
Analysis: Betting a Texas election on a weather forecast
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.
Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts during severe winter weather, even with new preparations, ERCOT estimates show
The most severe scenario considered by ERCOT for this winter โ very high demand for power, extensive fossil fuel outages, and low renewable power production โ does not capture the amount of power lost during February.
4 things weโve learned since Februaryโs deadly winter storm
Itโs 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.
ERCOT unveils โRoadmap to Improving Grid Reliabilityโ in effort to help Texas Power Grid
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.
Report on February freeze spurs heated council comments
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.
ERCOT will have to release information about power plant outages quicker โ but it may not detail what causes them
The Public Utility Commission said the state's main power grid operator will have three days โ instead of 60 โ to release some information about power plant outages. But that may not include why the electricity generators were offline.
Twitter goes nuclear over ERCOTโs request for Texans to hike thermostat in scorching heat
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.
Gov. Abbott said reforms fixed ERCOTโs flaws. Why is the Texas power grid struggling?
โThis is the sort of weather that a well-functioning Texas power grid should have no trouble meeting,โ Cohan said. โThese shouldnโt be such close calls.โ
Gov. Greg Abbott says power grid better than ever as Texans asked to cut back electricity use
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.
Bexar County opens cooling centers to residents amid heat, power conservation plea
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.
Map shows that San Antonioโs winter storm power outages were vastly different between neighborhoods
A map recently produced by CPS Energy showed something many San Antonio residents suspected was true during Winter Storm Uri โ outages were vastly unequal between neighborhoods.
San Antonio Emergency Preparedness Committee member gives sneak peak of winter storm response findings
The city of San Antonio is hoping the final findings of the February winter stormโs response efforts are polished before being released, which is why the date of release is now June 24 instead of June 15.
ERCOT issues Conservation Alert on Monday asking Texans to reduce electric use immediately
A Conservation Alert was issued Monday advising that the demand for energy was getting close to the stateโs energy supply level.
Gov. Greg Abbott to sign ERCOT reforms bill into law
Gov.Greg Abbott will hold a press conference Tuesday at the Texas Capitol where he will sign legislation into law to reform the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and weatherize and improve the reliability of the stateโs power grid.
Overhaul of ERCOT board could replace experts with political appointees
ERCOT names new, temporary leader two months after deadly winter storm
The board overseeing the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the independent nonprofit entity that operates and manages the electricity grid that covers much of Texas, named former executive Brad Jones on Tuesday to be interim president and CEO.
Energy instability at forefront of Texansโ minds after second straight day of โtight gridโ conditions
For the second mild spring day in a row, officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, said Wednesday that they were dealing with tight energy grid conditions.
ERCOT asks Texans to conserve power, but says outages not expected as it nears emergency conditions
The stateโs main power grid operator asked Texans to conserve power Tuesday afternoon and into the evening as the electricity grid is barely keeping up with the demand for electricity.
Public support of CPS Energy crumbled following power outages, Bexar Facts poll shows
The publicโs job approval rating of CPS Energy took a nosedive following Februaryโs deadly winter storm and widespread power outages, according to a new poll of likely Bexar County voters.
โCaught flat-footedโ: Energy experts, lawsuits claim CPS has itself to blame for $700 million in natural gas bills
As CPS Energy continues to file lawsuits against entities it claims contributed to massive natural gas bills it racked up during Februaryโs winter storm, energy experts and officials from some the companies targeted by the suits say the utilityโs poor risk management is to blame.
What led to the โtotal breakdownโ of the Texas power grid? KSAT Explains
In mid-February, Texas was hit with a winter storm unlike any weโve seen in years. In the wake of that storm, Texans are left with many questions.