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Just talked to the best SME on the @ERCOT_ISO grid, who also happens to be a neighbor. Consider this unofficial but highly accurate.
The bottom lines are the following: didn't learn from February 2011 incident, poor weather forecasting, and inadequate weatherization (WZ). 1/
The bottom lines are the following: didn't learn from February 2011 incident, poor weather forecasting, and inadequate weatherization (WZ). 1/
Power generators (PG) have lists of critical and non-critical assets. It started going downhill Monday early, and a lot of non-critical assets were blacked out because of a lack of generation. Normally, these non-critical assets would roll over. However, the entirety... 2/
... of the non-critical assets was already off. If you live in, say, East Austin where there are no critical assets, that's why you have been dark for so long.
From there, it became a chain reaction because plants were not WZ correctly. South Texas Nuke Unit 1 is a perfect ex. 3
From there, it became a chain reaction because plants were not WZ correctly. South Texas Nuke Unit 1 is a perfect ex. 3
This was compounded by natural gas infrastructure not WZ for this event. The problem is, these were all well known issues from 2/2011. Many plants did not learn and continued to operate without upgrading their WZ.
So, you have a death spiral of generation falling off-line w/ 4/
So, you have a death spiral of generation falling off-line w/ 4/
ever increasing demand.
So, critical assets started going dark. The last thing that could happen would be for the entire grid to go offline. If you don't know, that would be catastrophic. That would potentially be a month long event w/o power.
@ERCOT_ISO, in his opinion, 5/
So, critical assets started going dark. The last thing that could happen would be for the entire grid to go offline. If you don't know, that would be catastrophic. That would potentially be a month long event w/o power.
@ERCOT_ISO, in his opinion, 5/
did a fine job managing the situation, and @GregAbbott_TX calling for heads is childish and ignorant.
The problem were the generators, and there is no proof that regulated or deregulated performed any better. It came down to, in most cases, WZ.
If you want scalps, 6/
The problem were the generators, and there is no proof that regulated or deregulated performed any better. It came down to, in most cases, WZ.
If you want scalps, 6/
this is where they should come from. Not learning from 2/2011 is a big deal.
Ironically, those companies that continued to generate made a killing. On the flip side, those that failed will get hammered and possibly forced into bankruptcy.
That should fulfill the free 7/
Ironically, those companies that continued to generate made a killing. On the flip side, those that failed will get hammered and possibly forced into bankruptcy.
That should fulfill the free 7/
market fetishists, but it didn't in 2011. Clearly.
Regulations like NERC exist for a reason. At the very least, we need rules in place that force generators to WZ correctly.
This was all avoidable, had little to do with wind turbines, and embarrassed this state 8/
Regulations like NERC exist for a reason. At the very least, we need rules in place that force generators to WZ correctly.
This was all avoidable, had little to do with wind turbines, and embarrassed this state 8/
because of gross incompetence at leadership positions throughout the entire generation industry.
Texas is led by stupid, unserious people, and it's the citizens who pay the price. /fin
Texas is led by stupid, unserious people, and it's the citizens who pay the price. /fin
