COLD!

[MikeG]

Mo' data.... note that this was not our low temp, that was on Monday.

"The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) announced at 8:37 p.m. on February 14, 2021 that the new record had been set, reaching 69,150 Megawatts between 6 and 7 p.m. ERCOT noted this number is more than 3,200 Megawatts higher than the previous winter peak which was set January 2018. "

That was from a local news station.

Texas’ power grid set a new winter peak demand record Sunday evening

As severe winter weather continues across Texas, the state’s power grid announced it set a new winter peak demand record.

www.kxan.com

 

[MikeG]

Above was the top winter demand that I can find, here's what I can find re: summer power draw:

"According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, also known as ERCOT, Texas broke the August demand record Friday. The August record broke again on Monday, when electricity demand reached more than 74,000 megawatts, and ERCOT predicts Tuesday could be another record-breaking day as well. "

Source:

Texas Breaks Records For Peak Electricity Demand | Houston Public Media

The state’s largest grid operator says it’s because of sustained high temperatures.

www.houstonpublicmedia.org

So basically pretty close, summer and winter peaks. Since wind turbines don't ice up in August... hmm....... could have been the straw that broke the camel's back. Maybe.

 

[MikeG]

I'm finding number from 15,000 to 20,000 megawatts from wind turbines in Texas. That is a pretty big chunk of the state's total power generation, but no real answer on how many of the turbines went off-line due to the cold.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

In Saskatchewan, when I worked for the power corporation, the load was highest in severe polar vortexes - as a result, the steel mill in Regina had to shutdown its electric arc furnaces when temp hit a certain point, and other industries with high electrical usage had to follow as temperature dropped.

Wait.... WHAT?! You used to live in Regina (so did I!), and you worked for SaskPower (I didn't)? What ELSE did you do while you lived in Regina (and when was that?) If you don't want the whole world to know, feel free to PM me.

 

[Dirtman]

Pssssst.... hey... hey....

I'm sexually attracted to dinosaurs.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Pssssst.... hey... hey....

I'm sexually attracted to dinosaurs.

Is that why you keep chickens?

 

[Dirtman]

BIRDS ARE NOT DINOSAURS!

 

[Jim Oaks]

His Lights Stayed on During Texas’ Storm. Now He Owes $16,752. (Published 2021)

After a public outcry from people like Scott Willoughby, whose exorbitant electric bill is soon due, Gov. Greg Abbott said lawmakers should ensure Texans “do not get stuck with skyrocketing energy bills” caused by the storm.

www.nytimes.com

Imagine a $16,752 electric bill? And I thought the plumber was an asshole.

 

[Dirtman]

I can't afford to read the New York Times...

Give us all your password so we can read the story.

 

[Jim Oaks]

What? Have you been drinking??

I didn't need a password.

https://news.yahoo.com/lights-stayed-during-texas-storm-160028286.html

 

[Dirtman]

When I clicked the first link it let me read like 2 sentences then told me I had to subscribe and sign in to continue reading

The second link works, isn't that price gouging which is illegal during an emergency?

 

[MikeG]

I wondered about this 'free-market' electricity when it started being available.... seemed too good to be true. Knew a few people with side jobs trying to sell it. And kinda goofy since you are basically using the utility lines that were put in place by the utility that you previously used. Guess it was too good to be true.

Been part of an electric co-op where it wasn't available to me, anyway, so just as well.

 

[19Walt93]

I wondered about this 'free-market' electricity when it started being available.... seemed too good to be true. Knew a few people with side jobs trying to sell it. And kinda goofy since you are basically using the utility lines that were put in place by the utility that you previously used. Guess it was too good to be true.

Been part of an electric co-op where it wasn't available to me, anyway, so just as well.

I hope your electric coop is better than mine. We've had so many outages I remember the 800 number to report them, I own a generator and wired a transfer switch into my house. I also pay about 40% more than neighbors 1/4 mile away who are serviced by a real power company.

 

[MikeG]

It was very erratic, as far as service interruptions. There was more of a 'random' than 'rolling' blackout, that's for sure. And, as far as I can tell, neither my house nor my GF's ever lost power, at least not longer than a brief moment, which makes no sense and doesn't fit the narrative they were spinning. Some of my friends on the same co-op were without power for days, and some of them had much longer than 'advertised' interruptions when it came back on.

Oh and they cut off service to a water treatment plant that serves two cities..... not a very bright idea. If the power loss to the treatment plant was accidental, it sure didn't appear they put any extra effort into fixing it.

They've had issues for sure, over the years.

 

[Jim Oaks]

When I clicked the first link it let me read like 2 sentences then told me I had to subscribe and sign in to continue reading

The second link works, isn't that price gouging which is illegal during an emergency?

That's weird. I don't subscribe.

When I bought my house there was a shit ton of electric providers and plans to choose from. It's stupid. It's not cell phone service. It's a wire that runs from my house to another wire that connects to a power plant. I should just be paying the local power company directly. Deregulation made a mess out of the electric service here.