News Round-Up: February 2024

Utility Dive: Texas to explore new grid recovery options after 82% of black-start units failed during Winter Storm Uri

Feb. 2 — The state should consider how its growing battery storage resources could help with system recovery in the event of a widespread grid collapse, said PUC Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty.

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WFAA: Residents seeing much higher than usual Atmos energy bills

Feb. 1 — Some residents are complaining after getting their bills from Atmos Energy this month, showing statements much higher than normal.  People arguing over the bills are saying their bills are hundreds of dollars more than usual in some cases.

Bloomberg: Power Trader Challenges Texas Grid Policy Over Price Spikes

Feb. 7 — Texas grid officials received repeated warnings last summer that their efforts to shore up the state’s increasingly strained electric grid risked driving up power prices, records show.

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Bloomberg: Power Trader Challenges Texas Grid Policy Over Price Spikes

Feb. 13 — A power trader is challenging Texas regulators over a new policy he says led to billions of dollars in higher wholesale electricity prices.

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Texas Tribune: Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texas’ open market deliver?

Feb. 14 —  For nearly 25 years, much of Texas’ population have lived in a city that participates in the state’s open energy marketplace. But not the residents of Lubbock, who have been serviced exclusively by one electric company — Lubbock Power & Light, the city’s municipal provider. For more than a decade, residents have desperately wanted an open market, sharing their dissatisfaction with their bills.

Residents now have what they long wished for — Lubbock’s electric market is open.

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CleanTechnica: Texas Shatters Own Solar Power Record, Weird Political Situation Or Not

Feb. 15 — The Texas grid recorded a solar power jump of 46% in January this year compared to January 2023, climbing from 1.5 million megawatt-hours to 2.2 million.

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WFAA: Democrats introduce bill to connect Texas to national power grids

Feb. 14 — Democrats representing Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives will file legislation that would force Texas to connect its power grid to other states and limit ERCOT’s control over the system’s operation, the group announced Wednesday.  U.S. Rep Greg Casar, D-Austin, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, will sponsor the so-called “Connect the Grid Act” in the House.

— See the Report.

Bloomberg: New Texas Fossil-Fuel Power Plant Planned to Shore Up Shaky Grid

Feb. 12 — A new, natural gas-fired power plant is planned for central Texasthat will bolster the Lone Star State’s electricity grid while threatening to slow any transition away from fossil fuels.

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KETK: Texans to vote on funding to increase electric grid’s ‘reliability’

Feb. 12 — Texans will soon vote on a proposition that would create funding to increase “reliability” for Texas’ electric grid in the upcoming election. Texas Proposition 7, originating from S.J.R. 93, would create the Texas Energy Fund, which would support and finance the “construction, maintenance, and modernization of electric generating facilities.”

— See the Report

The New Republic: Take a Cue From Texas: Socialize Energy

Feb. 12— Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says the state should step in if the private sector fails to build natural gas facilities. How about renewables instead?

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Bloomberg: Texas Governor Says State Power Supply Needs to Grow 10% to 15%

Feb. 7 — Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his state will need to grow its power supply capacity by as much as 15% annually to keep up with rising demand from homes and businesses.

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