Texas Power Crisis Could be Caused by Severe Weather this Summer

The electricity outages that happened in February in Texas can reoccur this summer. It has been just a few months after the devastating winter storm which left millions of Texans without power for days. In this case, if the state experiences a severe heatwave combined with high power demand then outages can be expected.

Company executives and experts are warning the power grid that covers most of the state about another risky crisis in summer. It is the time when people demand more electricity at homes and businesses as they crank up their air conditioners. It is likely that this year, Texas sees a hotter and drier summer than normal. 2021 might also rank among the 10 warmest years on record globally.

Curt Morgan, CEO of Vistra Corp., said, “This summer, I am as worried right now [about the grid] as I was coming into this winter. Sounds like I’m the boy that cries wolf, but I’m not. I’ve seen this stuff repeat itself. We can have the same event happen if we don’t fix this.” Lawmakers continue to debate how to improve the grid after the February storm.

On Tuesday, Texans were asked to conserve electricity because the supply of power could barely keep up with the demand. Due to maintenance this week, a significant chunk of the grid’s power plants were offline. The warning triggered outrage among the residents and political leaders across the state. State Rep. Erin Zwiener, D-Driftwood, tweeted Tuesday, “I appreciate the increased effort toward transparency, but wow this is nervewracking to see in April.”