Ex-ERCOT chief testifies that Gov. Abbott’s order led to energy price hike during storm: report
While testifying in a bankruptcy trial for a Texas electric co-op, the state’s former grid manager said Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive led them to keep power price points high during last year’s winter storm, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
CPS Energy CEO says utility is fighting natural gas suppliers in court ‘every day.’ But they’ve dropped multiple lawsuits.
CPS Energy officials have dismissed at least three lawsuits against natural gas suppliers it accused of price gouging and charging exorbitant rates for fuel during February’s winter blast, court records obtained by the KSAT 12 Defenders show.
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 storm’s response efforts are polished before being released, which is why the date of release is now June 24 instead of June 15.
WATCH: Matthew McConaughey holds virtual concert to raise funds for Texans impacted by winter storm
AUSTIN, TX - SEPTEMBER 07: Matthew McConaughey watches player warmups before the game between the Texas Longhorns and the LSU Tigers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Austin, Texas. Actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey is hosting a virtual concert, titled “We’re Texas,” at 7 p.m., Sunday, to benefit those affected by Winter Storm Uri through the Just Keep Livin Foundation’s Texas Relief Fund. I’m Matthew McConaughey hailing from Austin, Texas and together #WereTexas. Join me and so many talented folks from Texas on Sunday, 3/21 at 7pm CT. Head to my https://t.co/xm9l02GWxK Let's get Texas and Texans back on their feet again - giddy up to give back @jklivinfndn pic.twitter.com/VSoPe1ydwT — Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) March 20, 2021“A lot of Texans are hurting right now,” McConaughey said in a release. The ‘We’re Texas’ virtual event features an all-star lineup of Texas talent for a night to restore Texas.
What state lawmakers from San Antonio think caused Texas blackouts and how to prevent in future
As temperatures plunged and snow and ice whipped the state, much of Texas' power grid collapsed, followed by its water systems. Currently, the Texas power market operates as “energy-only,” which encourages scarcity because generators are paid only when they provide power. “I absolutely think that the decision to deregulate Texas’ power grid was a mistake. At the state level, Texas should have created some type of emergency fund or plan to prepare for a winter storm. “By deregulating Texas’ power grid from others in the U.S. state leaders left us vulnerable and literally in the dark.
We asked San Antonio, Bexar County officials what went wrong and needs to change after winter disaster
Bexar County Judge Nelson WolffWhat could have been done differently at the local level to better prepare for and respond to the deadly storm? “ERCOT, the manager of the state energy grid, forced CPS Energy to shed load during the long freeze event, which was the root cause of the outages in our community. We must also examine backup generators for water pumping stations.”AdDo you believe state leaders’ decision to deregulate Texas’ power grid was a mistake? “The deregulation of the state power grid answers the call of a market-based economy. We need: better communication; better coordination; and better preparation.
CPS Energy sued for another death related to winter storm outages
SAN ANTONIO – The family of a San Antonio man who died in February is suing CPS Energy over his death. The wrongful death suit, filed Monday in the 166th District Court, accused the San Antonio utility of negligence that caused the death of Esequiel Mendoza. In the week before his death, Mendoza was not able to receive his usual life-saving dialysis treatment due to controlled outages imposed by CPS Energy at the request of the state grid, ran by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. It is at least the second wrongful death suit filed against CPS Energy related to the winter storm. AdAttorneys for CPS Energy declined to address the pending litigation on Friday morning.
President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden visit Texas on Friday
In this image taken through scaffolding, President Joe Biden speaks at a FEMA COVID-19 mass vaccination site at NRG Stadium, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Houston. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit Houston for the president’s first trip to a major disaster site since he took office last month. In Houston, Biden is expected to meet with Texas Gov. 2:20 p.m.: The president and the first lady tour the Houston Food Bank and meet volunteers. 5 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks at the FEMA COVID-19 vaccination facility at NRG Stadium.
NFL cornerback, former Judson standout Tre Flowers delivers semi-truck full of water to Karnes City community
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)SAN ANTONIO – Seattle Seahawks cornerback and former Judson High School standout Tre Flowers is once again stepping up to help people in the San Antonio area. Flowers arranged for a semi-truck to deliver a load of water to Karnes City on Wednesday afternoon. Flowers told KSAT his family is from Karnes City and he still has several relatives in the area, including his grandmother. Seahawks DB Tre Flowers (@_Slimm7) discusses how he set up an 18-wheeler water giveaway today at 5:30 pm at Karnes City park. Flowers and his family will distribute the water at 5:30 p.m. at Karnes City Park located on S Browne Street.
‘We have a duty to come to protect people’: Dangerous winter conditions led to busy week for San Antonio first responders
SAN ANTONIO – Last week’s devastating winter storm created dangerous conditions for the Alamo City. The San Antonio Fire Department and the San Antonio Police Department handled thousands of weather related calls, all of which made for a very busy time. According to SAFD, they responded to a total of 9,199 total incidents between Feb. 14 thru Feb. 19. The police department handled a tracked 1,454 crash calls for services between Feb. 13 - Feb. 19 as officers worked to maintain safe roadways for all drivers. Ad“We needed to come into work and we have a duty to come to protect people,” he said.
Residents recount moments that led up to massive apartment fire on North Side
About 50 Cortland View residents were evacuated after flames engulfed their apartment homes on Thursday. According to residents, several issues led up to the sinister event. Maria Teresa Saab has been a resident of the apartment community for about three years. San Antonians have stepped up to the plate to help fellow residents in their desperate time of need. RELATED: Apartment building on North Side collapses following large fire