Griddy customers moved to other electricity providers after ERCOT boots it from Texas market
Griddy made headlines for sending massive bills to customers after a winter storm sent wholesale electricity skyrocketing. Full Story
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![Scenes from McKinney during the winter storm affecting the entire state. The storm brought snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that are causing hazardous driving conditions and electrical outages.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Another ERCOT board member resigns as lawmakers criticize power grid operator for massive electricity outages
Texas lawmakers have questioned and criticized the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for days about the near-collapse of the state’s power grid last week. Full Story
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![Firefighters clear snow and ice from a side walk outside of the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center in East Austin on Feb. 17, 2021. Elderly residents were evacuated because of a power outage.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas judge rules federal eviction moratorium unconstitutional. Lawyers and advocates disagree on what that means for tenants.
The judge opted against issuing an injunction that would block the federal ban on evictions, instead signaling that he expected the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to withdraw its moratorium. Full Story
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![An East Austin neighborhood.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Watch live: Texas House and Senate holding hearings about last week's winter storm
Lawmakers will continue asking a litany of officials and executives how last week's power outages happened. Legislators in both chambers spent more than 12 hours investigating the disruptions Thursday. Full Story
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![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan. 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Plumber shortage and supply chain issues are delaying storm recovery efforts in Texas
A longstanding shortage of plumbers and disruptions to the supply chain of plumbing materials delivered to the state have combined to delay pipe and water heater repairs. Full Story
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![Zachary Shockency, a technician with Radiant Plumbing, looks for a burst pipe that caused flooding during last week's winter storm at a home in West Austin on Feb. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Many rural Texas counties currently left out of federal disaster aid eligibility for winter storm
Rural counties endured the same storm as big cities, but many haven't fallen under President Joe Biden's major disaster declaration. Officials say it's because those counties lack data on damages. Full Story
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![Marfa Food Pantry volunteers Gary Oliver and Alisha Waller load pallets with boxes of food for Saturday morning distribution. West Texas Food Bank delivered food Friday night after power was restored in Marfa.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Winter storm could cost Texas more money than any disaster in state history
Lawmakers and analysts say it is too soon for an exact estimate, but the financial damage from the storm has left state lawmakers scrambling to account for the storm in the middle of the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol during the winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Over a million Texans are still without drinking water. Smaller communities and apartments are facing the biggest challenges.
Plumbers and supplies to fix broken pipes are in high demand, but apartment complexes also present more difficulties than single-family homes when it comes to repairs. Full Story
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![Brian Frick demonstrates a bucket rigging system that the residents at Regency Apartments used to collect melting snow water as it flowed through the drain pipes in Austin on Feb. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
“Please support us”: Texas’ citrus and dairy farmers urge patience as they rebuild after the winter storm
The historic winter storm wiped out most of South Texas' citrus crop and halted dairy processing in the Panhandle for days. Consumers will likely continue seeing short-term shortages, producers say. Full Story
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![President of Texas Citrus Mutual Dale Murden slices into a fruit affected by the recent freeze. The citrus orchard is located between Santa Rose and Combes. Feb. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Winter storm response should focus on public safety, not dollars
For lack of heat and water, people died last week — in the great state of Texas and in their own homes — who would be alive right now, had the state taken heed of recommendations made after past winter storms and blackouts. Full Story
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![The Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas in Austin on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Here's how Texans can apply for federal help to recover from the devastating winter storm
Texas sustained between $45 and $50 billion in damage and economic loss from the storm, according to AccuWeather. So far, people in more than 100 counties can begin applying for federal assistance. Full Story
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![Volunteer Kaede Polkinghorne, center, helps a team of volunteers prepare masks at Kelly Garden at a supply distribution event on Feb. 19, 2021 in Houston. Many in Houston are still without water or supplies in the aftermath of the statewide snowfall. (May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune) KAEDE – white female]()
Credit: May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune -
Texans blindsided by massive electric bills await details of Gov. Greg Abbott's promised relief
Electric bills are likely to rise for everyone, experts and consumer advocates say, but some Texans on variable rate contracts have been hit with immediate, massive price spikes. Lawmakers and the governor have promised to help, but haven't said how. Full Story
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![Karen Knox, a special education teacher at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, received a bill of over $7K from Griddy for less than a week of electricity during the winter storm.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
“One thing after another”: Rural Texans faced the same storm — with unique hardships
Last week's winter storm was brutal for the whole state, but rural Texans faced particular hardships, like distance from helpful neighbors. And newborn calves. Full Story
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![Marfa is covered with snow on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021. The temperature dropped to 7 degrees on Friday morning.]()
Credit: Sarah M. Vasquez for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott wants power companies to “winterize.” Texas’ track record won’t make that easy.
Retroactively equipping power plants to withstand cold temperatures is likely to be very difficult and costly, energy experts say. Building energy infrastructure to perform in winter conditions is easier — and cheaper. Full Story
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![A variety of power lines in Dallas near Greenville Avenue during a winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021. Thousands of Dallas residents have been without power for multiple days.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Texans confront outages, food and water needs as feds issue disaster declaration
We’re tracking the fallout from the massive winter storm in Texas, which has brought widespread power outages and transportation problems. Full Story
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![Volunteers distribute boxes of food at a distribution site in Austin on Feb. 19, 2021.]()
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As Texans endured days in the dark, the state failed to deliver vital emergency information
When the lights went out this week and Texans lost access to power and clean drinking water, the Texas Division of Emergency Management failed to provide accessible and life-saving updates on outages and inclement weather. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a press conference regarding Texas’ emergency response to an unprecedented winter storm gripping Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Busted pipes, water damage, hotel bills: As power flickers on, costs loom for storm-weary Texans
Texans face a cascade of frustrations and expenses as the state tries to recover from the storm. Insurance companies are bracing for claims rivaling those after major hurricanes, and homeowners are trying to find plumbers and electricians. Full Story
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![Fire damage at an apartment building at The Park on Brodie Lane. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texans no longer need to conserve energy, power grid operator says
We’re tracking the fallout from the massive winter storm in Texas, which has brought widespread power outages and transportation problems. Full Story
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![Residents of an apartment building in South Austin ate their meals in the parking lot after losing power during a severe winter storm. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A winter storm leaves Texas with a black eye
The Texas government's failures in the face of a winter storm have been very hard on Texans, and could do lasting damage to the state's reputation. Full Story
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![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas power outages: Nearly half the state experiencing water disruptions as power grid operator says it's making progress
We’re tracking the fallout from the massive winter storm in Texas, which has brought widespread power outages and transportation problems. Full Story
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![Jennifer Vega waits in line at an H-E-B to refill a propane tank on Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune