Just one Public Utility Commission member remains after another resignation in aftermath of winter storm
Shelly Botkin's departure comes a week after the commission's chair, DeAnn Walker, also stepped down. Full Story
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![Power lines along a row of homes in South Austin. Many residents experienced power outages due to the winter storm that rolled through Texas. Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: After the blackouts, a whiff of the 2022 elections in Texas
A proposed remodeling of the state’s electricity grid from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller might be more than it seems. It reads like a campaign’s position paper. Full Story
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![Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller addressed delegates at the Texas Republican Convention. June 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Oil and gas interests left to “self-regulate” in aftermath of winter storm as Texas politicians pile on to ERCOT
Politically powerful natural gas production and transportation companies, along with their regulators, appear to have so far escaped the wrath of the governor and the Legislature in the aftermath of the Texas power outages. Full Story
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![A gas flare burns bright on a production site northeast of Andrews, Texas.]()
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas farmers start to replant after winter freeze left "total devastation"
Johnson’s Backyard Garden, an organic farm near Austin, lost almost its entire crop during February's devastating winter storm. Full Story
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![Farmworkers harvest a small patch of carrots that survived the winter storm at Johnson’s Backyard Garden, east of Austin, on Feb. 22, 2021. The organic farm experienced a near-total loss of their crops after a winter storm ravaged Texas.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. House Oversight Committee investigating operator of Texas’ power grid
A subcommittee chair wrote in a letter to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that the grid’s failures were “costly” and disproportionately affected low-income communities and communities of color. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol. Democratic members of the House prepare articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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Texas workers struggle to pay for groceries and rent after losing wages during winter storm
Many hourly wage employees across the state lost working hours last week during the storm and power outage disaster. Now, they’re left with a choice between paying for rent or groceries. Full Story
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![A sign informs customers of a store closure due to the recent winter snowstorm in South Austin. Feb. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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 -
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 -
Catastrophic Texas power outages prompt finger pointing and blame shifting at legislative hearings
Lawmakers grilled public regulators and energy grid officials about how power outages happened and why Texans weren't given more warnings about the danger. Full Story
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![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power, and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What's next for Texas after last week's winter storm?
On this week's TribCast, Matthew talks with Ross, Alana and Erin about the political fallout from the winter storm and what the state might do to prevent future widespread power outages. Full Story
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![An aerial view of southbound Interstate 35 at Stassney Lane in south Austin after a severe snow storm hit the state. Feb. 15, 2021.]()
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Texas plants released nearly as much pollution during winter storm as during Hurricane Laura
Oil refineries, chemical plants and other industrial operators emitted 3.5 million pounds of excess pollution during the winter storm and power crisis in Texas, according to an analysis of company notices provided to state regulators. Full Story
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![Refinery complexes along the Houston Ship Channel on September 7, 2016.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott, in statewide address, promises answers on winter weather disaster
"Tragic does not even begin to describe" the suffering Texans endured, Abbott said Wednesday evening. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott spoke at a press conference about the winter storm that was approaching Texas on Feb. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar 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 -
President Joe Biden to visit Houston on Friday after winter storm
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden would “meet with local leaders to discuss the winter storm, relief efforts, progress toward recovery and the incredible resilience shown by the people of Houston and Texas.” Full Story
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![Joe Biden at the National Education Association presidential forum in Houston on July 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
At least six people experiencing homelessness died during the winter storm. That number could rise.
Advocates for people experiencing homelessness drove through Texas' largest cities trying to bring them to the available warming centers and emergency shelters. The official number of casualties is still unknown. Full Story
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![A person walks past tents near the Interstate-35 frontage road in Austin on Feb.16, 2021. A winter storm caused icy roads and left millions of Texans without water or electricity.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for 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 -
Analysis: Texas failed in a storm, again. Will we be ready next time?
State leaders will start an investigation this week to figure out why utilities in Texas were outmatched by a weeklong winter storm. They did the same thing 10 years ago, and we still weren't ready. 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 -
“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 -
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.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune