BRKG Rolling power outages underway in TX...

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thompson

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
We're fixin' to have the power shut off, again, if the schedule from today holds. :mad:

www.kbtx.com

“No end in sight” for rolling power outages says ERCOT

Currently, 2-3 million customers are without power in Texas
www.kbtx.com www.kbtx.com

“No end in sight” for rolling power outages says ERCOT

Currently, 2-3 million customers are without power in Texas

By Adrienne DeMoss
Published: Feb. 16, 2021 at 5:49 PM CST|Updated: 2 hours ago

AUSTIN, Texas (KBTX) - The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) provided an update to their winter weather response Tuesday afternoon.

ERCOT instructed electric utilities throughout the state to begin instituting rolling outages to help rebalance the electric grid Monday morning. The rolling outages, and other outages caused by the winter storm, have continued into Tuesday with no clear end in sight.

Currently, 2-3 million customers are without power in Texas.

Dan Woodfin, Senior Director of System Operations at ERCOT, said this winter event has caused the highest power usage in Texas than ever before and there is a huge need to rebalance the electric grid.

According to Woodfin, the rolling outages are helping to stabilize the grid. He said if the grid had been left too long out of balance it could have had catastrophic impacts that could’ve taken a very long time to repair.

When asked how many power plants might have failed during this winter weather, ERCOT officials said they didn’t know.
More grids were able to be brought back online in some areas the day progressed, but he said they might have to take some back offline if things like the weather don’t change by this evening.

With another winter storm expected Tuesday night, Woodfin said that the sunny day has helped with collecting solar power on the system. As the weather warms up, Woodfin is hopeful that some of the issues they’ve been dealing with will get better.

But there’s still a lot of work to be done to fix the power grids and rolling outage are one of the top solutions. Many in the Brazos Valley have dealt with the rolling outages since Monday morning, and ERCOT said it is up to the utility provides to choose what locations get disconnected.

Bryan Texas Utilities has said that any power grid that has an essential service, such as a hospital, police department or fire station, on it will not be included in the rolling outages. That’s why some neighborhoods in Brazos County haven’t been affected by the forced blackouts.

When asked about how a disaster like this could be prevented in the future, ERCOT said they have plans in place to cover normal extreme weather conditions, but that this is beyond normal. They plan to get through this event, then look back at best practices and make a plan from there.
 
auxman

auxman

Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit...
There are four nuclear power units in TX. Two at STP (South Texas Project) and two at Comanche Peak... one unit at STP went offline, leaving three units still operating.
 
thompson

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
Power back on for a brief while... :sht:

I was trying to post this article when the power cut off, again, last time... :gaah:

www.kbtx.com

BTU: Rotating outage requirements may risk customers’ “health and wellbeing”

The electric provider says ERCOT’s demand “effectively leaves customers out of electrical service for extended periods at a time.”
www.kbtx.com www.kbtx.com

BTU: Rotating outage requirements may risk customers’ “health and wellbeing”

By Josh Gorbutt
Published: Feb. 16, 2021 at 12:55 PM CST|Updated: 8 hours ago


BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - In a dire message, Bryan Texas Utilities says a mandatory directive from ERCOT, The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, has hobbled their ability to provide power for customers. Blackouts may continue, they said, until temperatures rise at the end of the week.

BTU says ERCOT currently requires they cut roughly one-third of their system’s peak maximum, more than 100 megawatts. Originally, ERCOT’s requirement of BTU was only 9 megawatts, which required roughly 30 to 45-minute outages per customer.

In a statement, BTU officials said, “This level does not allow BTU to rotate the outages properly and effectively leaves customers out of electrical service for extended periods at a time. This is a potential risk to the health and wellbeing of BTU customers due to unprecedented sustained low temperatures.”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1361696534312742914
View: https://twitter.com/BTU_BryanTX/status/1361696534312742914?s=20


BTU stressed that their failure to follow the directive would put the reliability of the power grid at risk. BTU would also be breaking with market rules and subject to large fines and sanctions from the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Customers are encouraged to take precautions for their safety and the safety of those around them as freezing temperatures and freezing precipitation are forecast through Friday.

“ERCOT has given no indication of the generation shortage improving until temperatures moderate,” said BTU of the status of the mandatory blackouts.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1361542382756515841
View: https://twitter.com/BTU_BryanTX/status/1361542382756515841?s=20


ERCOT first called for the Energy Emergency Alert (3) at 1:20 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15. The order requires that utilities cut power to homes and businesses to reduce the electrical demand on the power grid. This level of alert has only been called for three times in the history of ERCOT, most recently in February 2011. Previously, cutbacks only lasted a few hours.
 
Warm Wisconsin

Warm Wisconsin

Easy as 3.141592653589..
Dennis Olson said:
What kind of fuel? Diesel? Gasoline? Natural gas?
Click to expand...

Found it

www.ksat.com

Texas Department of Transportation warns of ‘fuel shortage’ in parts of the state

The Texas Department of Transportation is warning drivers of a “fuel shortage” affecting parts of the state.
www.ksat.com www.ksat.com

Texas Department of Transportation warns of ‘fuel shortage’ in parts of the state
The shortages are happening along Interstate Highway 10, near Van Horn and Boerne, officials say

SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Department of Transportation is warning drivers of a “fuel shortage” affecting parts of the state.
“Parts of Texas have fuel shortages,” the department said. “If you must drive, top off before you hit the road.”

According to the department, the shortages are happening along Interstate Highway 10, near Van Horn and Boerne.
“When possible, we are alerting drivers about this on our electronic highway signs too,” the department said.
Stay Informed
As always, Your Weather Authority team will keep you updated. You can get the very latest forecast anytime by bookmarking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority App - available for both Apple and Android devices.
 
jward

jward

passin' thru
John Batchelor
@batchelorshow
· 8m
Thanks to the Clean Air Act, pipeline compressors run on electricity now rather than natural gas. So blackouts meant to conserve electricity can actually reduce it, by knocking gas-burning generators offline. https://wsj.com/articles/texas
...reliance on natural gas to keep prices low while curbing emissions. A coal plant might keep 90 days of fuel on hand. A nuclear plant needs refueling every two years. Gas-fired power plants have no such supply buffer. They depend on just-in-time fuel delivery.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Our power has been off for three days and we lost cell service as well. Power came back on at 9:30PM (a few minutes ago). Ghost and I are fine, as are all the critters. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up here. Still praying for those in the path of the storm. I'd like to pull Punk-satony Phil's tail off. The little rat sure nailed the six more weeks of winter thing.
 
mzkitty

mzkitty

I give up.
Millwright said:
Galveston county is still 75% out of power.

Heard some talk that there are a lot of fatalities down there....need reefer trailers for bodies kind of "lot".

No hard confirmation tho.
Click to expand...

Don't know about that, at least haven't seen anything. Did read there are at least 20 dead now, spread out over the hard-hit states. And earlier today saw that Houston, I think it was, has had over 300 cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, but at least they ain't dead.

:eek:
 
Laurane

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
vector7 said:
8a810e2c0632671b.jpeg
Click to expand...
And Canada is going to sell them every barrel of oil they want, now the pipelines are being restricted by the new "President"...... oil won't be flowing south to refine nearly as much as before if China has its way. Don't know how this will affect supply for USA, but it should be significant. Have to sell to someone or we will starve up here - some kind of choice, starve or freeze eh?
 
Laurane

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
TheSearcher said:
If this is the true read of what happened, the feds just shot themselves in the foot in regards to public opinion. It feels like revenge on Texas, and if people die over this, the bastards are complicit.
Click to expand...
Texas shouldn't have had to ask with all the windmills and solar panels out of commission - not creating ANY pollution. Stupid to sign something like that anyway - why bother having your own grid if the Feds have the ultimate say in how much you can use.
 
Laurane

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
Walrus said:
Siberian Express is one term used, that's true, but I've more often heard the term for these raging cold fronts as an "Alberta Clipper". Up in Montana, Alberta Clipper = winds from the north (everything froze up), Chinook = winds from the west/southwest (Everything thawed and mud a foot deep).
Click to expand...
It is warmer in central Alberta right now than in Waco TX...... and last week we were -40F/-40C (the same) during the night for 6 days. Nobody lost power and one waterline downtown burst. Guess insulation works wonders.
 
Dennis Olson

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Laurane said:
It is warmer in central Alberta right now than in Waco TX...... and last week we were -40F/-40C (the same) during the night for 6 days. Nobody lost power and one waterline downtown burst. Guess insulation works wonders.
Click to expand...
Insulation, home design (I bet all homes have basements) and building power systems hardened for extreme cold.
 
jward

jward

passin' thru
:(

Death toll rises as powerful winter storm knocks out power to millions in Texas


Last Updated Feb 16, 2021 8:50 PM EST

Plano, Texas — More than 3.5 million homes and businesses are without power in Texas, where some of the coldest temperatures in decades have hit the state. A second winter storm is moving in Tuesday night, with more snow and ice.
The storm has dumped snow and ice, knocking out power across dozens of states, and is blamed for at least 17 deaths, including a grandmother and three children who died in a house fire trying to keep warm in Sugar Land, Texas.

National Guard troops and thousands of state troopers are checking in on families who are struggling to stay warm. In parts of Texas and Oklahoma, temperatures haven't been this low in 100 years — causing pipes to freeze and then explode.
The storm has also forced COVID-19 vaccination sites to close and has caused delays in new doses from being shipped across the country. Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the storm "the winter version of Hurricane Harvey." State officials have asked people to conserve power if they have it.

In Houston, two others died of carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to stay warm inside their car. There was outrage after some skyscrapers were still lit up, while downtown Dallas went dark Monday night.
Texas winter storm
A woman crosses the street in Dallas on February 16, 2021. LM Otero / AP
In Oklahoma City, the temperature dropped to minus 14 Tuesday morning — the coldest temperature there since 1899. And in Galveston, medical examiners have requested a refrigerated truck after reports of several cold weather-related deaths.
Residents in Fort Worth were forced to boil their own water after a water treatment plant shut down.
Jamie Blanton scrambled to cook and recharge her devices every time the lights come on. "We've probably had a total of maybe 2.5 hours of power. And that whole time since Sunday," she said.

The situation is so bad, Terra Davis is leaving the state after she, her husband and 8-month-old baby had to huddle around their fireplace to stay warm. They went without power for 30 hours.
"It was negative 2 degrees last night," Davis said. "We had our daughter wrapped up in as many pieces of clothing as we possibly could, but we were really scared."

Texas is the only state in the continental U.S. that has its own power grid. It is not regulated by the federal government and residents are angry that it's failed.
"I understand that people are angry that this has happened ... let us get the power back on," said CEO Bill Magness of ERCOT, the power utility that supplies Texas.
Texas — winter storm
People seeking shelter from below-freezing temperatures in Houston on February 16, 2021. David J. Phillip / AP
The same storm created a powerful tornado in a coastal region of North Carolina that blew apart homes and killed three people and injured 10 others. The powerful twister ripped homes from their foundations, snapped trees and pulled down power lines.

Ellen Acconcia and Bill Callahan rode out the storm in their laundry room before discovering their neighbor trapped under rubble. He later died. "I was able to talk to him ... All he was able to say was basically that he hurt everywhere and was in so much pain," Callahan said.

North Carolina was one of 15 states battered by the same massive storm system. Tornadoes also hit Georgia and Florida.
Officials said the tornado developed so quickly, people didn't know it was coming. Many were in bed and didn't have a chance to take cover. Acconcia and Callahan said they got an emergency alert after it had already hit their house.


Jessi Mitchell contributed to this report.

Please see source for videos and additional photos
www.cbsnews.com

Second major winter storm threatens wide swath of U.S. with millions still suffering after first

Almost 3 million homes and businesses in Texas had no power as a new problem emerged: a wave of water restrictions resulting from the lack of electricity.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com
 
jward

jward

passin' thru
:: Hot tea & Hugs, Ladies ::

thompson said:
Power back on for a brief while... :sht:
I was trying to post this article when the power cut off, again, last time... :gaah:

www.kbtx.com

BTU: Rotating outage requirements may risk customers’ “health and wellbeing”

The electric provider says ERCOT’s demand “effectively leaves customers out of electrical service for extended periods at a time.”
www.kbtx.com www.kbtx.com
Click to expand...
Seeker22 said:
Our power has been off for three days and we lost cell service as well. Power came back on at 9:30PM (a few minutes ago). Ghost and I are fine, as are all the critters. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up here. Still praying for those in the path of the storm. I'd like to pull Punk-satony Phil's tail off. The little rat sure nailed the six more weeks of winter thing.
Click to expand...
 
G

genrim

Veteran Member
Millwright said:
Galveston county is still 75% out of power.

Heard some talk that there are a lot of fatalities down there....need reefer trailers for bodies kind of "lot".

No hard confirmation tho.
Click to expand...

www.click2houston.com

Galveston County residents face water and electricity issues

Galveston County officials are calling for a refrigerate truck to hold the expected influx of bodies of people who have died from subfreezing temperatures.
www.click2houston.com www.click2houston.com

Galveston County calls for refrigerated truck to handle influx of bodies from freezing weather

GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston County officials are calling for a refrigerated truck to hold the expected influx of bodies of people who have died from subfreezing temperatures.

According to the county Medical Examiner’s Office, officials are expecting to receive a couple of dozen bodies of people who have died during the cold snap. Officials said the trucks are necessary since many funeral homes in the area have lost electricity and are unable to house the bodies.

“That number is going to climb as we have the ability to do more welfare checks and check on people who’ve been trapped and without power for the last 48 to 50 hours,” said Galveston County Judge Mark Henry.

Henry said the county’s medical examiner covers Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties, so they will take care of weather-related fatalities for not only Galveston County residents but also others as well which could contribute to the high numbers.

Henry didn’t mince words over his frustration with the way the blackouts have been instituted.

“This was predictable,” Henry said. “You guys covered it for a week before the event, and yet the Energy Reliability Council, I’d say it’s the most unreliable thing we have around here.”

Henry said about 90% of Galveston County is without power. He laid the blame for these deaths at the feet of the state, saying he would like to know who made the decision to cut power to his county.

Henry says the only other time the county has made a request like this since he took office in 2011 was because of COVID-19, but that truck was never used.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Laurane said:
Texas shouldn't have had to ask with all the windmills and solar panels out of commission - not creating ANY pollution. Stupid to sign something like that anyway - why bother having your own grid if the Feds have the ultimate say in how much you can use.
Click to expand...

As I went through three days without power, no internet or cell service, and essentially blind to the situation- it came to me that if the commies wanted to cripple Texas, just don't restore power. The fight would go out of most of us quick.

If we truly have our own grid, then we shouldn't have to kowtow to anyone in times like this. For Texas, this is a security issue.
 
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