Updated weatherization standards for energy facilities were approved in May 2021. The situation did not significantly improve until temperatures rose above freezing four days after the event began. A “doom-loop” resulted for power plants unable to procure supply ( Chart 1). In the process, electricity was also unknowingly disrupted to many natural gas production and processing facilities, which had already struggled to operate in cold temperatures. Power generation was unable to match record demand, forcing the state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), to order power cut to millions of customers to maintain grid stability. Wind speeds fell to extremely low levels, and many of the few wind turbines producing power froze. Multiple natural gas and coal power plants experienced equipment failures and were forced offline. The deep freeze two years ago brought single-digit and subzero temperatures across most of Texas along with ice and snow. However, improved enforcement of weatherization standards, incentives for thermal power plant development and enhanced demand-response programs would help ensure the power grid stands up to future demand growth and the challenges of extreme weather. Taken together, the Texas grid is in better shape than it was during the 2021 deep freeze. With intermittent sources of renewable power becoming a large and growing presence in the energy mix, thermal power reliability is crucial. However, power plants and natural gas facilities still failed in the below-freezing temperatures. New regulations, weatherization standards and operational changes have addressed many shortcomings, but some critical gaps persist.Ī cold snap in the days surrounding Christmas 2022 did not result in rolling blackouts or worse, as was the case in February 2021. Nearly two years later, questions remain whether the electrical grid is now more resilient to winter weather. The Texas deep freeze in February 2021 exposed the inability of the state’s energy supply chain to withstand extremely cold temperatures.

Ercot grid map