Millions of Texas residents have gone days without power or heat in below-freezing temperatures brought on by the rare snow and ice storms sweeping the typically warm and dry region.
Desperate families have tried to combat the snowstorm by running generators and grills indoors, leading to hundreds of carbon monoxide poisonings.
Texas Governor Greg Abbot called the blackout “unacceptable” and said he would add electrical power grid reform as an emergency item for the 2021 legislative session.
The Texas power grid, ERCOT, named after the Electric Reliability Council of Texas is a standalone electric grid that has been deregulated.
Energy and policy experts said Texas’ decision not to require equipment upgrades to better withstand extreme winter temperatures and choice to isolate itself from other U.S. power grids left the system unprepared for the crisis.
Policy observers blamed the power system failure on the legislators and state agencies who they say did not properly heed the warnings of previous storms.
Nevertheless, Texans have been forced to suffer through these treacherous conditions through no fault of their own.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a personal injury, property damage, or a loss of access to power or water, you may be entitled to financial compensation through an ERCOT lawsuit.
