Texas' Power Grid Needs Major Upgrades, and Fast

Last month’s Hurricane Beryl caused widespread damage and power outages in Houston and the Gulf Coast, once again exposing the vulnerabilities of Texas' power grid. While CenterPoint Energy, the main electricity provider in the affected areas, has been criticized for its handling of the storm, much of the blame lies with the state's neglect of power infrastructure.

Hurricane Beryl's Devastation & CenterPoint's Response

• Hurricane Beryl was an extremely severe early-season storm, with 90 mph winds.
• It knocked out power to 2.2 million customers, caused $4 billion in damage, and led to multiple deaths.
• CenterPoint Energy has been criticized for lack of planning and slow restoration.
• However, the company activated its emergency response plan before the storm and coordinated with external utility crews.
• Within two days, 1.1 million customers had power back, and by the ninth day, almost all users were restored.

A Wake-Up Call for Texas

• Hurricane Beryl is a stark reminder that Texas must prioritize power grid resilience.
• Texas had 210 weather-related power outages between 2000 and 2023, the most in the nation.
• The "Great Freeze" of 2021 caused a massive outage, resulting in 246 deaths and $300 billion in damage.

Focusing on Power Lines and Poles

• While Texas has focused on generation (wind, solar, batteries, gas), transmission and distribution lines have been neglected.
• ERCOT, the state's power operator, warns that line upgrades are critical to grid integrity and accessing renewable resources.
• Texas' rapid population and job growth, as well as its booming economy, rely on reliable electricity.
• Upgrading the power grid will be costly, but crucial for sustaining Texas' success.

By Bernard L. Weinstein, a fellow of Goodenough College, London, retired associate director of the Maguire Energy Institute at SMU, and professor emeritus of applied economics at UNT.