Shortcuts are haunting Texas residents again as the state’s power manager, ERCOT, warns of electricity outages.
The Texas power grid was not built in a day.
But, it broke down in one day, February 15, 2021.
At 1:25 AM, ERCOT set off rolling power outages.
Mouse trap power
A deep freeze crushed the state.
“The temperature in Dallas dipped to -2° F, the coldest it had been in Dallas for 70 years. Snow fell on the beaches on the Gulf Coast at Galveston, south of Houston. Temperatures in Austin remained below freezing for six days at a time of when temperatures usually average in the mid-50s. At Brownsville, near the most southern tip of Texas, February weather typically averages 65° F. High temperatures in Brownsville were in the mid-80s just days before the cold. The temperature in the city did not rise above freezing for nearly 48 hours once the cold settled in. For the first time in history all 254 counties in Texas were under a winter storm warning at the same time.” Michael Giberson, Reason Foundation Policy Brief, April 2021
Months later, here we are again.
ERCOT issues a conservation warning June 14, 2021.
So now we live looking over our shoulder?
Everyone knows a smart builder looks ahead . . .
- with projections
- with plans
. . . and always has a big gorilla for emergencies.
Texas doesn’t have a big gorilla. No emergency power.
Operators make money like a pizza parlor.
Sell lots of pizza and cut costs.
“Except this is not selling pizza, people die w/o power.” State Rep. Gene Wu, Houston Chronicle, 2/16/2021
2011 lessons
The Super Bowl in Dallas, February 3, 2011, had the same crisis.
An artic freeze forced ERCOT into rolling blackouts.
Millions went powerless.
Reminds me of the son who cut corners in his father’s business.
The father had spent years building a reputable construction business and wanted his son to join. But, his son refused.
After chasing adventures, the son changed his mind, “Dad, I’m ready to learn.” So, his father hooked him up with a trusted foreman and made him watch.
Finally, the son said, “Dad, I’m ready to oversee a subdivision. I’m ready for more responsibility.”
Dad said, “OK. You’ve learned well. But, before I put you in charge of a subdivision, go build a spec home. I’ll finance it. Build the best possible house you can build. And when you finish, come to me and let’s see how it looks.”
Fired up, the son launched the project. He figured he could build for a lot less money than the plans called for.
After all, other builders . . .
- hide mistakes
- hide cheap materials
Why not do the same thing?
And he did. Cut corners. Cut suppliers.
Finally, the boy walked into his dad’s office. “Well, all done. Finished.”
Father said, “Great! How’d it go?”
“Well, I don’t know,” said the son.
Sensing his hesitancy, the father asked, “Did you do the best possible job?”
Boy thought a minute and said, “Well, I believe I did. I hope so.”
Father said, “I hope so too, because that was my money . . .
and now it’s your house. Here’s the keys.”
Survive folly
You have to live in the house you build.
An old Spanish proverb reminds us . . .
“There is no home which does not at some time know it’s hush.”
Yeah, but who suffers the “hush” over and over again?
“The prudent man perceives danger and seeks shelter, while the simple continue forward and pay the penalty.” Proverbs 27:12
I guess all the smart people buy backup generators.
What’s your solution?