/winter-storm-2021 Central Texas experienced historic winter weather the week of Feb. 14, with a stretch of days below freezing. Sleet followed snow followed freezing rain, leading to a breakdown of the electric grid and widespread power outages. Water reservoirs were depleted and frozen pipes burst, leaving some without service for days. en-US Copyright KUT News 2025 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:01:40 GMT /energy-environment/2025-02-14/texas-electric-grid-blackouts-winter-storm-energy-power-plants Experts were skeptical of a report from the Texas grid operator showing the state could run short of power by 2026. Fri, 14 Feb 2025 21:01:40 GMT /energy-environment/2025-02-14/texas-electric-grid-blackouts-winter-storm-energy-power-plants Mose Buchele /energy-environment/2023-12-15/texas-power-plants-have-no-responsibility-to-provide-electricity-in-emergencies-judges-rule A panel of judges has said that big power companies cannot be held liable for failure to provide electricity during the 2021 blackout. The reason is Texas� deregulated energy market. Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:39:08 GMT /energy-environment/2023-12-15/texas-power-plants-have-no-responsibility-to-provide-electricity-in-emergencies-judges-rule Mose Buchele /energy-environment/2023-06-23/ercot-cant-be-sued-over-power-grid-failures-during-2021-winter-storm-texas-supreme-court-rules The all-Republican court narrowly found that the nonprofit corporation operating the state’s electrical grid qualifies for sovereign immunity, which protects government entities from lawsuits. Fri, 23 Jun 2023 20:51:47 GMT /energy-environment/2023-06-23/ercot-cant-be-sued-over-power-grid-failures-during-2021-winter-storm-texas-supreme-court-rules Emily Foxhall /2023-03-17/appeals-court-says-state-agency-set-electricity-prices-too-high-during-2021-winter-storm The actions by the Public Utility Commission led to billions of dollars of overcharges, the Austin-based court found. It’s not yet clear if the ruling will affect consumers. Fri, 17 Mar 2023 22:58:09 GMT /2023-03-17/appeals-court-says-state-agency-set-electricity-prices-too-high-during-2021-winter-storm Erin Douglas and Emily Foxhall /energy-environment/2022-02-23/ercot-kept-prices-high-during-the-blackout-per-the-governors-instructions-former-head-says Gov. Greg Abbott's office has said he was "not involved in any way" with the decision. Testimony from the former head of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas appears to contradict that. Wed, 23 Feb 2022 23:34:43 GMT /energy-environment/2022-02-23/ercot-kept-prices-high-during-the-blackout-per-the-governors-instructions-former-head-says Mose Buchele /texas/2022-02-17/cost-of-last-years-winter-storm-could-reach-300-billion-new-report-says A new report from an association of civil engineers places part of the blame for the storm’s aftermath on a “run to fail� model adopted by energy companies. Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:51:30 GMT /texas/2022-02-17/cost-of-last-years-winter-storm-could-reach-300-billion-new-report-says Julián Aguilar /2022-02-15/low-income-texans-are-still-reeling-from-the-winter-storm-theres-no-guarantee-the-next-time-will-better A year ago, temperatures across the state plummeted, in many cases to below freezing. Low-income Texans were hit hardest, and now they’re more vulnerable than ever. Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:31:22 GMT /2022-02-15/low-income-texans-are-still-reeling-from-the-winter-storm-theres-no-guarantee-the-next-time-will-better Kyra Buckley, Caroline Love /energy-environment/2022-02-15/one-year-later-many-question-the-official-number-of-deaths-linked-to-the-texas-blackout There may be many deaths that have yet to be recognized. One statistician recommends the state commission an independent review. Tue, 15 Feb 2022 20:43:09 GMT /energy-environment/2022-02-15/one-year-later-many-question-the-official-number-of-deaths-linked-to-the-texas-blackout Mose Buchele /transportation/2022-01-10/capmetro-should-have-stopped-bus-service-sooner-during-winter-storm-unreleased-after-action-report-says The transit agency earned praise and criticism in a third-party analysis of its performance during the historic February storm. It's vowing to implement the recommendations. Mon, 10 Jan 2022 22:32:44 GMT /transportation/2022-01-10/capmetro-should-have-stopped-bus-service-sooner-during-winter-storm-unreleased-after-action-report-says Nathan Bernier /texas/2022-01-02/texas-puts-final-estimate-of-winter-storm-death-toll-at-246 Officials added 36 to the estimate of lives lost in the disaster, which knocked out power in much of the state. Some experts place the toll even higher. Mon, 03 Jan 2022 02:32:16 GMT /texas/2022-01-02/texas-puts-final-estimate-of-winter-storm-death-toll-at-246 Patrick Svitek