The Mighty Abbott Has Struck Out

Re-upping a story from the spring: ERCOT outlined some extreme scenarios earlier this year warning that a severe heat wave or drought combined with high demand for power could put the grid in jeopardy this summer. https://t.co/2sggQUmnLe

— Erin Douglas (@erinmdouglas23) June 14, 2021

I just got a notice from my power company that I need to conserve energy through June 18. We already expect to officially hit 100 degrees today (my home thermometer has recorded 100+ for a week now), and we haven't gotten to August yet.

If you're asking yourself right now:

Did the #txlege pass any bills to fix the Texas power grid after millions of people were without power and water for days in a February winter storm...

Well here ya go: https://t.co/aFaYaJBvtY

— Rebekah Allen (@rebekahallen) June 14, 2021

Texans can reduce electricity use by setting the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher; turning off lights and pool pumps; avoiding use of large appliances such as ovens, washing machines and dryers; and turning off or unplugging unused electric appliances.

— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) June 14, 2021

Yeah, I've had to set my thermostat above 80 to get it to cut off today.

Needless to say, any further discussion from Abbott or Patrick about voting law reform, or vetoing the Legislative budget (still 6 days to go to make good on that threat), or building a border wall, or anything that doesn’t involve solving this crisis are going to be as popular as a flash flood in a Fizzies factory.  If you’re old enough to remember “Fizzies.” 

Most of us don’t know what the Lege did about the power crisis, but we do know we’re going to be back where we were four months ago.   Because, once again, many power generators are off line.  Once again, there’s not a damned thing we can do about it; and once again (until September, anyway) anybody buying their electricity wholesale for household use, is likely to get screwed.  Again.

Shit, meet fan.