Parts of Texas were in a dangerous situation Tuesday as back-to-back freezing weather systems left the Lone Star state with rolling blackouts as the power grid struggled to heat homes.
Texas power outages stretch into third day as millions face freezing conditions
February 17, 2021 / 1:08 PM / CBS/AP
Anger over Texas power outages in the face of a record winter freeze continued to mount Wednesday as millions of residents in the energy capital of the U.S. remained shivering. There were still no assurances that their electricity and heat out since Monday in many homes would return soon or stay on once it finally does. I know people are angry and frustrated, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Tuesday. So am I.
In all, nearly 3 million customers in Texas still had no power Wednesday after historic snowfall and single-digit temperatures created a surge in demand for electricity to warm up homes unaccustomed to such extreme lows, buckling the state s power grid and causing widespread blackouts. A large swath of Texas was under yet another winter storm warning Wednesday.
Texas is the only state in the continental U.S. that has its own power grid. Unlike the Eastern and Western power grid networks, which serve the rest of the country, Texas' power grid is not subject to federal regulation.
By Julia Manchester - 02/16/21 10:36 AM EST
Officials in Texas are under fire for their handling of the massive winter storm that swept across the state over the weekend, leading to widespread power outages that have impacted more than 2 million Texans.
Critics took to social media on Tuesday to air their grievances with officials, accusing them of being underprepared for the unusually harsh winter weather conditions in the Lone Star State. The lack of preparation by officials and power companies in my home state is the height of negligence, MLB host and Texas native Robert Flores tweeted. F pathetic.
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No disrespect to @Whataburger. But this is just sad.