Texans everywhere are bracing for a serious winter blast set to hammer us later this week.
And as we get ready for it, we are asking ourselves and each other: Do you think our electrical grid will hold up to the demand for energy? That is an absurd question in this state, arguably the energy capital of the world.
However, here we are. From here in Princeton to Pampa, from Presidio to Palestine we are wondering about the Electric Reliability Council of Texas ability to manage the state’s electric-generation capacity.
Why worry about ERCOT? Why, hell. It was just less than two years ago when ERCOT failed us. We lost power. We lost water generation. Hundreds of Texans froze to death.
ERCOT says the grid will hold up. So do our politicians, led by newly re-elected Gov. Greg Abbott. They tell us the state has plenty of energy to withstand this brief, but intensely bitter cold blast coming in the next few hours.
Pardon me for doubting the assurances. I remember the misery we endured. It was too brief of a time ago. That shouldn’t have occurred … but it damn sure did!
We’re taking measures in our house to prepare for the worst. I just hope our neighbors are, too. If enough of them prep for the deep freeze, then we’ll be all right.
Why must it come to this?