AUSTIN, Texas — As we inch closer to the winter months, a recent report from the North American Electric Reliability Corp (NERC) said that more than half of the U.S. could fall short of electricity during extreme cold again this winter.
In past years, Texas' power grid has had issues holding up during peak winter months. NERC reported that due to a lack of natural gas infrastructure, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), among other grid operators, could fall short. Officials with NERC say ERCOT is vulnerable to generators going offline under extreme cold conditions.
KVUE reported in October that ERCOT is looking to increase its power capacity ahead of winter in Texas. The electric utility company issued a request to add up to 3,000 megawatts to its operating reserves. By adding the 3,000 MW, it would reduce the probability of entering into an energy emergency alert below 10%, which is under its elevated-risk threshold.
Experts say fall is one of the best times for home tune-ups to prevent expensive repairs during the colder months. Tasks like clearing any brush away from your house to prevent any damage to the exterior of your home can help in the long run.
Also make sure your wet boots, jackets and umbrellas are not dripping through the house. Instead, set up a place for those items to be hung up on a coat rack or somewhere else dry.
In the report from the NERC, the Reliability Corp, along with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, urged lawmakers to fill a regulatory blind spot to maintain a reliable supply of gas during extreme cold that was highlighted by an inquiry into power outages during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022.