TEXAS – At one point this week nearly 4 million Texans were without power after storms barreled through the state, sending temperatures plummeting. It proved the Texas power grid is vulnerable, and a perfect storm of events led to a week of hardships and even life-threatening situations.

The bitter cold affected all of the power sources – coal, crude, natural gas, and, to a lesser degree, wind and solar. The grid was forced to shed load as the demand for power increased.

It has been pointed out that part of the problem is that energy producers in Texas haven’t fully weatherized. This week’s event was unprecedented in Texas, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.

The Texas Legislature is in session, and state Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, announced he is filing utility reform bills, one of which would require weatherization.

According to a news release, the first bill will “require the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to enact comprehensive rules requiring each energy operator to fully weatherize and maintain each coal, gas, nuclear, and wind plant to protect from severe weather conditions.”

“This must not be a suggestion or request for a study or report, but a mandate that such weather protections be in place to guard against the freezing consequences Texans are currently experiencing,” Allison said.

The other piece of legislation Allison is working on would require the PUC to require energy providers to enact procedures for requiring public school facilities in emergency priority categories for grid and distribution purposes. Essentially it means schools would provide food, shelter, transportation and other services in a crisis.

Allison said he will file the bills in the Texas House soon.

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