Governor Abbott held a press conference on February 4 to provide an update on the severe winter weather impacting the state of Texas. He was joined by the leadership of the Public Utility Commission, ERCOT, Railroad Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and Texas Division of Emergency Management. 

 

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions. 

 

Governor Greg Abbott 

  • Overnight, it was bitterly cold across most of Texas 
  • Most of the state will continue to experience sub-freezing temperatures overnight 
  • Tonight, the whole state will experience these temperatures 
  • Peak demand was at 69,000 MW this morning 
  • 86,000 MW was available when peak demand was reached; far exceeded peak demand during the 2021 Winter Storm 
  • Do not expect demand to exceed that demand for the rest of the storm 
  • 15% more power generation than last year, availability of alternative fuels, maintenance being completed before the storm, etc.  
  • The Texas electric grid is more reliable than it ever has been due to actions by the Texas Legislature 
  • Is plenty of power expected for today and tomorrow; should be about 17,000 MW in excess power 
  • Currently there is about 15,000 MW of excess power 
  • Remain about 20,000 customers in Texas without power; loss of power is due to local power provider issues 
  • Power outages can be reported at PUC.texas.gov/storm 
  • Texas Military Department has deployed 125 personnel and 50 vehicles  
  • Have assisted 10 stranded motorists and are adding 5 wreckers to the Kerrville area 
  • Texas A&M Forest service has been clearing ice off roads and assisting motor vehicles 
  • Helped remove 8 semi-trucks in a pile-up 

 

Peter Lake, PUC 

  • Grid was ready for this event; is performing as expected and is more reliable than ever 
  • Historic reforms by the Texas Legislature have created more reliability especially in extreme weather events 
  • Are operating in an abundance of caution and bringing generators on sooner rather than later 
  • Overviews market and other reforms; have implemented more reforms in a short amount of time quicker than anywhere else in the U.S. 

 

Brad Jones, ERCOT 

  • Hit highest load demand early this morning; generation and transmission partners operated admirably 
  • Have had no reported outages due to weather; is due to the winterization requirements 
  • System will remain on a watch for several more days 

 

Christi Craddick, RRC 

  • Residentials and gas utilities have not had significant service disruptions 
  • If you have an outage, report it to your local utility 
  • At an operator briefing this morning, business is continuing as usual 
  • Are operating as expected with natural gas coming into the system 

 

Toby Baker, TCEQ 

  • Have had a minimal impact on water systems 
  • Will have ongoing cold weather, will result in the freezing of some lines 

 

Marc Williams, TxDOT 

  • Roads will continue to be icy; is stubborn ice on roadways due to low temperatures 
  • 4,000 TxDOT personnel have been engaged throughout this event 
  • Bridges and elevated sections of road have been particularly of concern 
  • Have been working on roadways overnight particularly in West I-10 in Kerrville there was a crash 
  • In Kerrville there is at least one lane open both ways; hope to have two lanes open in a couple hours 
  • Expect to seem problem areas re-occur over the next couple of days 
  • Avoid travel whenever possible 

 

Steven McCraw, DPS 

  • Troopers have responded to 416 crashes which resulted in 49 serious injuries and 3 deaths 
  • Stay off the roads if you do not have to be on them 
  • Motorists are driving too fast for the current conditions 
  • Have been state vehicles that have been hit by motorists 

 

Nim Kidd, TDEM 

  • Continues to host statewide local government calls 
  • Kerr County judge is moving those involved in the Kerrville crash/traffic into warming centers 
  • Brutal cold will continue; need to prevent preventable injuries and deaths 
  • If you do not have to get out to drive, do not get out there 
  • If you do not have to be outside, do not be outside 
  • Need to take actions to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning 

 

Q&A 

 

Q: Feel about this event versus last year? 

  • Abbott – Are implementing all the reforms passed in a bipartisan way; have led to a more resilient grid 

 

Q: Walk through why the forecasting for power demand changed so much? 

  • Lake – Forecast changes closer to the operating day; have taken a new position to prepare for the worst-case scenario; staying home from work and schools closed causes less demand 

 

Q: Main thing we are doing to prevent what happened in last year’s winter storm? 

  • Abbott – Have added more power generating capacity; about 15% more 
  • Abbott – Have more reserve power, 99% of power generators have passed winterization inspections, had more power generators online and continuing to operate, more natural gas facilities were designated as critical infrastructure, are alternative sources of power onsite 

 

Q: Lots have run out of gas in Kerrville and have been stuck there overnight? 

  • McCraw – Challenge was how to get vehicles off the road quickly; there is nothing to be done to move them through with conditions like this 
  • Williams – Have one lane open off and on throughout the night; issue has been working around the large trucks 
  • Williams – Motorists need to know conditions will continue to be hazardous  

 

Q: What is being done to prevent accidents like in Kerrville, tonight? 

  • Abbott – TxDOT will be out in advance to prepare the roads; will continue to warn motorists about the dangerous conditions 
  • Williams – Have treated and will continue to treat the roads, but the roads will continue to be hazardous