TEXAS — We know Texans get their power from several sources, but over half of our electricity comes from natural gas. Texas is the largest producer of natural gas in the country.  

What you might not know is getting natural gas to a power plant is a two-step process. Gas suppliers pumped the gas from the ground and then sold it to a power plant to generate the electricity that goes to your home. 

The root of the problem during last year’s winter storm was the lack of natural gas. Many providers could not get enough natural gas to keep up with demand. The gas that was available was selling at an extremely high cost. 

Demand overwhelmed the supply of fuel, keeping electric providers from generating enough electricity. That resulted in millions of Texans losing power for days. 

But are we better off now? This month, gas faced a big test since last year’s storms: freezing temperatures and ice. But the power stayed on. 

“Operations are continuing in the oil and gas world as usual. We are operating as expected with natural gas coming into the system,” said Texas Railroad Commissioner Christy Craddock during this year’s storm.

This time, enough gas was available. This freeze didn’t last as long, wasn’t as cold, and wasn’t as widespread as 2021’s historic winter storm. 

Some experts believe if another week-long winter storm were to hit, gas facilities might not be ready. 

While the Texas Railroad Commission remains confident in our gas supply’s ability to withstand cold temperatures, some experts and industry leaders want more transparency.