“Misinformation rides the greased algorithmic rails of powerful social media platforms and travels at velocities and in volumes that make it nearly impossible to stop,” New York Times opinion writer Charlie Warzel recently wrote.
Then, no matter how incorrect the misinformation is, it becomes “information.” We’ve seen that a lot recently as state leaders, the public and many others have loudly blamed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for widespread power failures during statewide subfreezing temperatures.
I write to defend ERCOT and set the record straight on what is information vs. misinformation.
First, it’s important to understand exactly what ERCOT does, and doesn’t, do. ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers who represent about 90% of the state’s electric load. It schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 46,500 miles of transmission lines and 680-plus generation units. When generation drops to dangerous levels, like it did in the early hours of Monday, Feb. 15, ERCOT tells transmission companies, municipal utilities and electric cooperatives how much energy must be shed to keep the grid stable. Those entities decide how to reduce demand and which customers have their power cut. ERCOT is not a state agency, but it answers to the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature.
Texas just suffered through its worst winter storm in a century. As a result, electricity for much of the state was disrupted for hours and days. As bad as this was, it could have been much, much worse. Quick action by ERCOT engineers in the middle of the night on Monday, Feb. 15, saved many lives. Had they not acted when they did, the whole grid would have collapsed. Full service to the state could not have been restored for months. Imagine how many lives would have been lost if that disaster had occurred.
Within two hours on that night, as the winter storm worsened, electric generation massively failed as plants stopped operating. Texas lost 41% of electricity produced by natural gas, coal and nuclear plants. Some wind turbines froze, compromising that source of electricity. Interestingly, in the days after the crisis developed, solar production doubled.
On a normal February day, Texans need about 54,000 megawatts of electricity at peak demand. Early on that Monday morning we needed more than 70,000 megawatts. When generators started going down, ERCOT was managing a full-blown disaster. Given the tools ERCOT had, it did an excellent job.
I hear accusations that Texas’ deregulated market was the culprit in this disaster. Not true. As co-author of that deregulation legislation (which easily passed with a bipartisan vote), I’m proud of what it has accomplished since the deregulated market was established in 2001.
Texans have since saved billions of dollars in electric costs and now pay some of the lowest rates in the country. New generation has been built, with fewer regulatory roadblocks, helping power our state’s booming population and economic growth over the past decade. Without that additional capacity, last week could truly have been catastrophic and impacted even more Texans.
Improving the reliability of generating plants does not require abandoning our free market. Winterization of these plants is indeed needed; this was recommended a decade ago and should be required. The Texas Legislature can grant the PUC authority to enforce this.
Some of my conservative friends are blaming renewable energy for the grid failure. This isn’t fair. When you lose 41% of gas, coal and nuclear plants, it isn’t the fault of renewables. Only 25% of the grid’s capacity comes from wind, with 70% of the state’s energy generated by gas, coal or nuclear sources.
Early Monday morning, over half of ERCOT’s generating capacity was offline because of the storm, mostly due to problems with the natural gas system.
So, what should Texas do? ERCOT and the PUC can only act in ways permitted by the Texas Legislature. They do not have the authority to compel electric generators to winterize their plants. They can only suggest it.
Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed legislation to give the PUC authority to require winterization. The Legislature should act immediately to give the PUC the tools it needs so that Texans do not suffer another week in the cold and dark.
PHOTO GALLERY
MORE PHOTOS — Snow, ice and the storm aftermath in Waco; submit your best shots
An aerial photo taken from near Koehne Park along Lake Waco shows a temporarily closed stretch of Lake Shore Drive.
Two men play disc golf Friday in a still-snowy Cameron Park.
Icicles begin to melt Friday off a building's awning on Ninth Street in downtown Waco.
The historic Cooper House at 1801 Austin Ave., is surrounded a blanket of snow. The house, completed in 1907, now serves as the Cooper Foundation headquarters.
Footprints in the snow near the Waco Suspension Bridge.
Snow starts to melt Friday from a sculpture outside the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum on Waco Drive.
Snow starts to melt Friday from sculptures outside the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum on Waco Drive.
Two women leave the Waco Convention Center on Friday after receiving their COVID-19 shots.
Jo and Ronald Schwartz bundle up in their Robinson home, where the power was out six days before coming back on Saturday.
Hewitt resident Michael Bancale posted this sign in his yard begging Oncor workers to come restore power to his home.
Hewitt resident Dominic Abeyta slept in his pickup parked in his driveway one night so he could use his CPAP machine while the power was out in his home.
Cody Fergusson cozies up with his puppy and his 3-year-old daughter Monday as the temperature dropped in their Robinson home. Their power came back on Friday.
City of Waco employees work on a broken waterline Friday at Sixth Street and Austin Avenue.
Branson Redding with Specialty Restoration of Texas checks on a dehumidifier Friday in the dining hall of the The Salvation Army William and Catherine Booth Garden Apartments, which suffered damage from a leaking waterline.
Workers at Wildland Supply Co., a retailer at 721 Washington Ave., clear out water from a broken pipe Friday morning.
Hilton Hotel Chief Engineer A.D. Stephens clears snow and ice from the sidewalk for guests on Friday.
Brotherwell Brewing employee Nathan Scott carries jugs of water the brewery filled for free Friday for residents who brought them in.
Vicky Ward, right, and her daughter, Janay Willis, left, hold up water bottles that were filled up Friday at Brotherwell Brewing, which had filled tanks before the storm hit. They plan to distribute the water to friends and relatives who are in need.
Coca-Cola Co. donated 100 pallets of bottled water to the city of Waco, and the city has been distributing the supply to residents in need.
Franklin Avenue is covered with ice as cars attempt to travel downtown at Fifth Street.
Ice-covered streets in Waco at New Road and Valley Mills Drive.
A water crew replaces pipes Thursday at 23rd Street and Waco Drive.
A car travels through the intersection of Austin Avenue and 11th Street, which has no power. Ice remains a big factor on area streets that are not well-traveled.
Cars travel on icy roads at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Franklin Avenue.
City of Waco crews load water pipes at Heritage Square near the Waco Convention Center on Thursday.
Jeremy Echols and his friends in the Waco Navy have been delivering free firewood to about 40 homes without power since Tuesday night.
A crew works on a water pipe at 23rd Street and Waco Drive.
Water crews work on a pipe at 23rd Street and Waco Drive on Thursday morning. City officials called for people to reduce water use to a minimum and report leaks to 299-CITY.
Pickups truck slide on Sanger Avenue at Valley Mills Drive.
A pickup truck slides Thursday morning on Sanger Avenue at Valley Mills Drive, where icy conditions made going uphill a hazard.
A Texas Army National Guard vehicle makes its way along Valley Mills Drive on Thursday. The guard has been assisting motorists and others in need around the state.
A motorist lights up Lake Charles Drive on Wednesday night after several days without power on the street.
Waco firefighters don their masks before checking on a resident on Cold Water Drive Thursday afternoon.
Trash sits by the curb, waiting for pickup city garbage pickup routes didn't run this week.
A motorist lights up Lake Charles Street last night which is still out of power since Monday morning.
The Texas Department of Public Safety roadway cameras showed icy conditions on Interstate 35 through Waco.
A trio of pickups works together to extract a truck from a ditch on Hewitt Drive.
A man with a bike makes his way to downtown Waco amid the recent snow.
Sledders walk up the hill next to the Riverside Treatment Plant on Wednesday. The plant came back into service Tuesday after a power outage earlier caused a shortfall of millions of gallons.
A car pulls a refrigerator down the street Wednesday near 38th Street and Grim Avenue.
In this West Waco neighborhood on Wednesday night, one side of the street had power while the other did not.
A city of Waco crew works on a waterline Wednesday near 42nd Street and Cobbs Drive. City leaders are pleading with customers to conserve water to avoid the need for a boil notice.
A city of Waco crew works on a waterline Wednesday near 42nd Street and Cobbs Drive. City leaders are pleading with customers to conserve water to avoid the need for a boil notice.
A delivery driver makes a stop Wednesday at McAlister’s Deli on Waco Drive. Restaurants that could stay open generally also stayed busy.
Employees take orders and clear snow from the drive-thru Wednesday at Bush’s Chicken near New Road and Bosque Boulevard. With supplies from other locations that could not open, the restaurant served about 6,000 customers Tuesday and saw another packed day Wednesday.
Employees at the Bush's Chicken on New Road use shovels to break up the snow as customers line up at lunchtime Wednesday. With supplies from others locations that could not open, the restaurant served about 6,000 customers Tuesday and almost as many again Wednesday as food options remained limited because of the weather and power outages.
Cars line up at Whataburger near downtown at Interstate 35. Restaurants able to open generally were busy Tuesday and Wednesday despite the dangerous travel conditions.
A man shovels snow from the drive-thru lane of McDonald's on North Valley Mills Drive.
The Bush's Chicken at New Road and Bosque Boulevard remained busy Tuesday night while many other restaurants were unable to open.
A family enjoys the snow Tuesday while being pulled by their pickup truck at Turner Street and Chestnut Street.
Icicles form in a North Waco neighborhood Tuesday.
The H-E-B on Wooded Acres Drive limited the number of customers allowed inside the store because it was short staffed.
Cars fill up parking spaces Tuesday at the Hilton hotel on University Parks Drive.
Ronnie and Lisa Jackson of Riesel check out of Hotel Indigo Tuesday morning. They had stayed in a hotel in Marlin since Friday night because their home lost power. They moved to the Waco hotel after the Marlin hotel lost water and power.
People push a car free after it was stuck in the snow Monday in Waco.
People push a car free after it was stuck in the snow Monday in Waco.
Motorists drive Monday on a snow-covered Bosque Boulevard.
Dr. Erick O'Neill removes snow from the rear tire of his truck Monday after spinning out at Hillcrest and Lake Shore Drive.
Robert Pruett helps a motorist out of the snow Monday after getting stuck at Cobbs and Valley Mills Drive.
A motorist travels up Austin Avenue in the Castle Heights neighborhood Monday morning.
Snow began falling at Baylor University late Sunday afternoon and was expected to continue through the night.
Snowy roads at Wooded Acres Drive and Bosque Boulevard.
City of Waco crews place stop signs at various intersections along North Valley Mills Drive after traffic signals went down on Feb. 15. At least 40 percent of McLennan County customers were without power during the winter storm in February.
City of Waco crews were putting out stop signs at intersections along North Valley Mills Drive after some traffic signals failed.
City of Waco crews were putting out stop signs Monday at intersections on North Valley Mills Drive after some traffics signals failed.
A view of North Valley Mills Drive at Lake Air Drive, where city of Waco crews were putting out stop signs at various intersections after some traffic signals were not working.
A view of North Valley Mills Drive.
Wooded Acres at Valley Mills Drive.
A view of North Valley Mills Drive where city of Waco crews Monday morning were putting out stop signs at various intersections after traffic signals went down.
Wooded Acres at Valley Mills Drive.
A view of North Valley Mills Drive where city of Waco crews were putting out stop signs at various intersections where stoplights were not working.
New Road and Bosque on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021.
A view of Lake Waco from the top of Lake Shore Drive, which is closed to traffic.
Local residents get out of the cold at a Salvation Army warming center Monday.
Local residents get out of the cold at a Salvation Army warming center Monday.
Baylor University student Nathan Hennigh poses by an ice-covered fountain as students enjoy the cold conditions Monday.
Baylor University student Nathan Hennigh poses by an ice-covered fountain as students enjoy the snowy conditions.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day while taking selfies at Fountain Mall.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day with makeshift sleds pulled by cars.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day with makeshift sleds pulled by cars.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day with makeshift sleds pulled by cars.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day while taking photos on campus.
Baylor University student Nathan Hennigh poses by an ice-covered fountain as students enjoy a snow day.
Baylor University student Nathan Hennigh poses by an ice-covered fountain as students enjoy a snow day.
Baylor University students enjoy the snow day while taking selfies at Fountain Mall.
A young man checks his phone while taking a break from trying to bicycle near Bishop Drive.
Dog walkers gets some exercise near Edmond Avenue.
Dog walkers get some exercise near Edmond Avenue.
A woman makes her way down Dever Street, covered with snow that fell overnight.
Motorists travel through the snow-covered intersection at Austin Avenue and 18th Street.
A woman walks down Austin Ave covered with snow Monday.
A woman walks down Austin Avenue, covered with snow Monday.
A view of Austin Avenue in the Castle Heights neighborhood.
Baylor University students make their way through the snow that arrived overnight.
Snow covers the parking lot across the street from the McLennan County Courthouse downtown.
Baylor University students take advantage of the snow for selfies in front of Pat Neff Hall.
Baylor University students take advantage of the snow for selfies in front of Pat Neff Hall.
Snow makes a return as the arctic blast arrives in Central Texas. Shown here is Baylor University on Sunday evening.
Snow makes a return as the arctic blast arrives in Central Texas on Sunday evening.
Snow blanketed downtown Waco and the rest of Central Texas late Sunday afternoon.
Snow accumulates downtown on Sunday afternoon.
Snow accumulates Sunday around the silos of Magnolia Market.
Slippery roads and bridge didn't keep motorists from traveling Sunday over the 18th Street viaduct. More than 60 collisions were reported.
Snow covers Franklin Avenue by the Tribune-Herald building on Sunday night, Feb. 14.
The Tribune-Herald parking lot downtown was covered in snow on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Scenes of Franklin Avenue downtown covered in snow on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Scenes of Franklin Avenue downtown covered in snow on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Scenes of Franklin Avenue downtown covered in snow on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Scenes of Franklin Avenue downtown covered in snow on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Snow covers Franklin Avenue by the Tribune-Herald building on Sunday night, Feb. 14.
The Tribune-Herald parking lot was covered in snow downtown on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
The Tribune-Herald parking lot was covered in snow downtown on Sunday evening, Feb. 14.
Snow covers the Crawford-area landscape on Monday.
A lone hay bale is shown Monday on an uncharacteristically snowy day in Crawford.
Snow partially covers a road Monday in western McLennan County.
Cows graze in a pasture near Crawford after a rare snowfall Monday.
Rebekah Cummins captures a photo of snowfall Monday morning in McGregor.
Paw prints in the Viking Hills neighborhood on Monday.
R.C. and Lillian Borderud pause for a photo on a snow day Monday on Austin Avenue in Waco.
A small pup shakes during a trip outdoors after a rare snowfall coated North Waco.
Snow blankets a front yard in North Waco.
A reader captures a morning snowscape near China Spring.
Alizandra Pecina enjoys a day outside amid a rare Texas snowstorm.
A Valentine's Day evening snowfall caused the shutdown of Austin Avenue in Waco.
Pedro Green snaps a picture of recent snowfall as he relaxes in his room at the American Inn on West Waco Drive.
Flowers and plants are encased in ice in Riesel.
Sykora Family Ford's wrecker service pulls a semi truck out of a ditch.
Snow covers the deserted intersection at 11th Stretet and Franklin Avenue.
A bird huddles for warmth in a potted plant at the backdoor of a Waco-area residence.
Reader Susan Schafer snaps a photo of her snow-covered yard from a window in her home.
A Waco-area tot enjoys a rare snowfall in Texas.
A young boy is up to his knees in snow in Waco.
No ducks can be seen on this frozen pond near Waco.
Snow covering Cameron Park in Waco glistens in the sun.
Tribune-hERALD readers have fun skiing AT Cameron Park in Waco.
Frozen down spouts are a rare sight in Texas.
A creek at Austin Avenue and Mecca Road remains frozen after a blast of wintry weather hit the Waco area earlier this week.
Linda Libert moved to the Waco area from New England 18 months ago to escape the cold, snowy winters. But they followed her.
This Waco resident heads to the store on foot to avoid driving on icy, snowy roads.
Hog Creek off of Speegleville Road is shown in a rare frozen state.
The Hawkins family enjoys a snow day in Texas.
Two young girls take full advantage of a "once in a blue moon" snow day in Waco.
Oncor crews work to restore power to Elk residents.
"Peter the Snowman" stands in a Waco-area yard.
Tanner Lookingbill's dogs enjoy the snowfall in Hallsburg.
A Baylor University sophomore poses for an icy photo in a historic Texas winter storm.
Two Baylor University sophomores pose by a frozen fountain.
Waco-area residents spend a day playing in the snow in Cameron Park.
This icicle, measuring 4 feet, 9 inches, is a rare sight in Texas winters.
A Waco-area pup poses outside in the snow.
Baylor University students pose near a frozen fountain.
Footprints in a snowy backyard in Woodway.
Ricky Shull's dog, Toast, adjusts to a new, unfamiliar ground covering on Feb. 15.
David Sibley of Waco is a former Republican state senator who co-authored Senate Bill 7 in 1999, which deregulated the Texas electricity market. He represented the Waco area from 1991-2002 after a stint on the Waco City Council from 1984-87, including serving as mayor. He is a graduate of Baylor University, Baylor College of Dentistry and Baylor Law School who has served on the board of regents. This commentary first appeared in The Dallas Morning News.
