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.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
“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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
Texas leaders failed to heed warnings that left the state’s power grid vulnerable to winter extremes, experts say
Texas officials knew winter storms could leave the state’s power grid vulnerable, but they left the choice to prepare for harsh weather up to the power companies — many of which opted against the costly upgrades. That, plus a deregulated energy market largely isolated from the rest of the country’s power grid, left the state alone to deal with the crisis, experts said.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
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.
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Winter Storm 2021
Many Texans have died because of the winter storm. Just how many won’t be known for weeks or months.
Dozens of deaths have been tied to this week’s storm, but experts say the death toll is likely far larger.
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Winter Storm 2021
President Joe Biden says he’ll visit Texas soon and sign a major disaster order after a winter storm hammered the state
Biden also said he has directed multiple federal agencies to assist people in the state.