Thousands of people in Texas are still without power more than a week after Hurricane Beryl hit the state.
The storm of category 1 generated wind speeds of up to 97 miles per hour, which caused trees and power lines to fall. Unfortunately, the storm and the resulting power outage led to the deaths of almost two dozen individuals. At its peak, around 2.2 million utility customers were without electricity. Although it has been several days since the storm hit, several thousand customers are still experiencing power outages.
Houston officials and those across the state have been demanding answers and pointing fingers regarding the delay in power restoration. The primary question at the center of their concerns is why it took so long to get the power back on.
Several former elected officials and energy experts were contacted by the Texas Newsroom to gather their insights on the lessons learned in the immediate aftermath of Beryl. The consensus among them is that the preparations made prior to the storm fell short of what was required.
According to the experts, there should have been more measures taken well in advance of the hurricane season.
According to Sylvester Turner, who has served as Houston mayor until this year and represented the area as a state lawmaker for almost 30 years, the truth is that we can expect storms to arrive more frequently and with greater intensity. This means that we need to prioritize preparation well in advance to ensure we are ready to face the challenges that come our way.
The response of CenterPoint Energy, which caters to the majority of the affected customers, has faced intense scrutiny due to the storm.
Turner, who is a Democrat, pointed out that the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl cannot be solely blamed on the utility company. He believes that the state, utilities, and the city itself are also responsible for what happened. According to him, all parties involved have a role to play in ensuring that such a situation does not occur again.
CenterPoint’s role
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Several deaths were caused by fallen trees during and after Beryl, which also led to power outages in Houston. This storm taught us two crucial lessons: the significance of tree maintenance and the necessity of having appropriate generators.
There’s not much to re-write in this paragraph as it only contains the photo credit for the image. However, to make it more human-like, I could say something like:
This beautiful photo was captured by the talented Natalie Weber. She has a great eye for detail and always manages to capture the perfect shot.
According to a recent report by the Houston Chronicle, a whopping $800 million was spent by the company on 20 massive generators. However, the report states that 15 of these generators are currently not being utilized due to their size and the time required to assemble them. Additionally, some of these generators require a permit to be transported, further adding to the delay in their usage.
Residents and officials alike have expressed dismay over the lack of deployment of the 32-megawatt generators, which have the capability to power entire neighborhoods.
At a Public Utilities Commission hearing, Jason Wells, the President and CEO of CenterPoint, explained that the large generators were not utilized for power generation because they are specifically designated for “load shedding.” This term refers to the process of directing utilities to shut off power during times of high demand, as directed by ERCOT.
According to Doug Lewin, a knowledgeable energy consultant based in Austin and the writer of the Texas Energy and Power newsletter, the provided explanation doesn’t seem logical.
According to Lewin, load shedding events have only occurred three times in the past 35 years. Therefore, he believes it would not be justified to spend $800 million on mobile generators for an event that only occurs once every 12 years.
According to him, it is essential for the state to have a greater amount of permanent diversified generation, which involves utilizing various technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and backup generators to generate electricity. This type of technology is crucial in guaranteeing that essential facilities like nursing homes, assisted living centers, and water treatment plants remain operational during power outages. Lewin emphasized the significance of this approach to ensure uninterrupted power supply to critical facilities.
The government’s role
When Hurricane Beryl hit, Governor Abbott was on a business trip in Asia and faced criticism for not cutting the trip short or canceling it altogether. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick stepped in as acting governor and issued a presumptive disaster declaration before the storm made landfall. Following the hurricane, Patrick formed a special legislative committee to investigate CenterPoint’s response to the disaster.
Upon returning to Texas, Abbott swiftly countered his critics and shifted the blame towards CenterPoint.
The governor has penned a letter to CenterPoint’s CEO, urging the company to tackle several issues. These include resolving concerns about vegetation and providing a clear plan of action to minimize or eradicate power outages.
Abbott is urging the company to accelerate its efforts to replace electricity poles with stronger ones before the end of the hurricane season. CenterPoint is expected to submit its plan by the end of the month. If the company fails to comply, Abbott warns that he will refuse the company’s request to increase rates or review its coverage area.
Governor Abbott has taken action by writing a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas, calling for an investigation into the recent power outages. The Governor is seeking clarification on whether the outages were caused by personnel failure or infrastructure issues, along with details about CenterPoint’s pre-planning process.
The deadline for the submission of the PUC’s report is fast approaching, as it is expected to be completed by December 1, just before the start of the upcoming legislative session.
Lewin believes that while CenterPoint is facing a lot of criticism, it’s important to not solely place the blame on the company. Elected officials also need to take responsibility for their role in the situation.
Lewin pointed out that instead of investing in more effective solutions during natural disasters, such as hurricanes, authorities have opted for spending large sums on gas plants that are not very useful during such events. He also highlighted how CenterPoint has spent $800 million on mobile generators that have not been very effective in the aftermath of hurricanes.
“I believe that the authorities should take a moment to reflect on their policy choices. It’s not just a matter of blaming external factors. They need to improve their regulatory and policy framework to ensure that it benefits the people of Texas.”
The next storm
By the end of Friday, July 19, CenterPoint has announced its aim to restore power to all its customers.
As power outages hit Houston twice this year and previous storms caused massive flooding, some residents are questioning the feasibility of continuing to live in the fourth-largest city in the country.
According to Ed Emmett, a fellow in energy and transportation policy at the Baker Institute and former Harris County judge, the key to weathering the next big storm is better coordination among those who choose to stay. Rather than blaming others, individuals should work together to improve their preparedness and response.
Emmett, a Republican, emphasized the importance of not taking electricity for granted, especially in light of the recent storms that have hit. He expressed that there will be a lot of discussion around how to increase the resilience of electricity, but ultimately, these storms are unpredictable and can strike at any moment.
“Always be prepared for the worst-case scenario, and assume that a storm is on its way towards you.”
