Winter becomes the new Summer for ERCOT as reliability questions rise again

In Texas, it is usually said that we have just four seasons that differ from everyone else. We have almost summer, summer, still summer, then Christmas. In short, we are hot, or on the verge of sweating, probably eight months out of the year. We all know that during the summer, the power grid has gotten pushed to its limits recently, especially last summer, where it stayed at or above 100 degrees most of the season.

But the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is now facing the prospect of wintertime becoming its second summertime. Winter Storm Uri in 2021 brought ERCOT to the forefront, as green power failed, and the infrastructure was seen for what it is: outdated, and inefficient.

Since then, some progress has been made in fixing the grid. However, we continue getting power conservation requests in the summertime. According to Bret Bennett of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, we are still in a situation where another Winter Storm Uri could happen.

"The issues that popped up during that storm still exists to an extent...you have a lot of reliance on gas, which can create problems when you have freeze ups in the winter," he says.

The grid has become overly reliant as well on green energy. Solar, wind farms, you name it. What is supposed to be the next big thing for energy has fallen flat in Texas, with us still seeing countless grid issues and demand problems.

But how can it be any worse than the summertime? Well, that is because it is not summer.

"Building so much solar and batteries...those things help in the summer somewhat, but in the wintertime, demand peaks at 8 pm at night, when there is no sun...that is when the biggest problems are going to come is winter nights," he says.

In Texas, yes, it is hot most of the year. But when it gets cold, it gets really cold. Especially when you factor in the high humidity. It can feel just as cold as most places in the United States. So, cold nights are incoming in a few months, and those heaters will be put to use in every home across the state.

ERCOT has been brought before the state legislature over their efforts, or lack thereof, during the Winter Storm. But even with that, it all came as a reaction rather than being proactive with a grid that is, once again, outdated.

That is all thanks to smoke-filled backrooms and politics.

"Everything comes from the legislation...there is politics at every level of that, and politics are inherently reactive, rather than proactive," he says.

Bennett adds that this story is not being reported on simply because it is not in anyone's interests to do so.