Oil and gas interests left to “self-regulate” in aftermath of winter storm as Texas politicians pile on to ERCOT
Texas Tribune
Tags: A gas flare burns bright on a production site northeast of Andrews, Texas. From the natural gas wellheads in West Texas to the power plants that burn gas to generate electricity, multiple energy systems failed during the February 2021 storm in Texas that left millions without power for days.
Credit: Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune
After being battered by withering criticism of its management of the power grid during last month’s winter storm, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas saw several of its board members resign and fired its CEO. The chair of the Public Utility Commission, which oversees the grid operator, was forced to resign.
Politically powerful natural gas production and transportation companies, along with their regulators, appear to have so far escaped the wrath of the governor and the Legislature in the aftermath of the Texas power outages.
Oil and gas interests left to self-regulate in aftermath of winter storm
ERIN DOUGLAS, The Texas Tribune
March 5, 2021
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After being battered by withering criticism of its management of the power grid during last month’s winter storm, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas saw several of its board members resign and fired its CEO. The chair of the Public Utility Commission, which oversees the grid operator, was forced to resign.
The political fallout from the long-lasting Texas power outages have hit both entities hard after Gov. Greg Abbott blamed ERCOT’s leadership for the near-collapse of the electric grid and made its reform a legislative priority, and state lawmakers hammered the PUC for what they called a failure of oversight.