Abbott Discusses State Efforts To Help Restore Power To All Texans

Staff Reports

On Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott provided an update on the state’s response to winter weather conditions and power outages.

Abbott said he has ordered natural gas producers in Texas to redirect sales from out of state to in-state to help provide power generators with fuel.

ERCOT reported this morning that the state was short 47,000 megawatts, which was affecting approximately 2.8 million Texans.

Abbott said another round of precipitation is expected to pass across the state, mostly sticking to South Texas and reaching no further North than Austin, over the next 24 hours.

Temperatures are supposed to begin rising to above freezing on Saturday.

Abbott said since 12:01 this morning, 6,000 megawatts have been added to the state’s power grid providing power for approximately 1.2 million households.

“Several things have assisted with this,” Abbott said. “One of the power outages in the state was the South Texas Nuclear Plant Project, as well as coal-generated power, were shut down.”

ERCOT said various generators have been compromised due to equipment failures or weather-related issues.

Abbott said South Texas Nuclear Plant Project and coal-generated power should come on this evening and adding additional power.

According to Abbott, some natural gas produced in Texas is currently being shipped to locations out of the state; however, he issued an order, which will be in effect thru Feb. 21, instructing natural gas producers within the state to sell to power generators.

Local municipalities in Hays County have announced office closures, which will continue into Friday, while the area continues to suffer from power outages.

Some Hays County residents have been without power since Sunday night.

Christi Craddick, Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission, said the commission has been focusing on gas issues and making sure the grid is moving.

“The good news: in the west and the southern part of the state, we’re beginning to unfreeze,” Craddick said, “In doing so, we’ve been working with the Public Utility Commission to try and make sure there is electricity out to some of these well sites and these processing plants so gas can start moving.”

ERCOT reported approximately 180 generators were down as of this morning and range from renewable energy to coal, thermal and gas-powered generators.