re: Tesla Asking Owners to Limit Charging During Texas Heatwave to Relieve Power Grid

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other than a once a generational freeze in 2021, when has the Texas power grid failed us?

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It failed during the last two “once a generational” freezes in 1989 and 2011.

Not-so-surprisingly, those root cause investigations came up with basically the same recommendations. Some generators ignored the recommendations. Others made changes but then either failed to maintain those improvements or failed to continue implementing those improvements on new work over the years.

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It failed during the last two “once a generational” freezes in 1989 and 2011.

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At least for us Feb 2011 was nothing like Feb 2021 in length of time below freezing and in how low temps got. 2011 was less than half the time below freezing for us. Rolling blackouts happened on just one day I think in 2011 from minutes for some up to several hours for some (also think area effected was smaller, and either we had a short blip or never had one. The were more warnings/requests to conserve but don’t remember anything else happening. The warnings and weather got a lot of additional press because of it being Super Bowl week at Jerry World including the ice on its roof that became a concern it would break off and with people below. I remember people more mad thinking the warnings to conserve were about keeping Super Bowl week running.

According to CNN it doesn’t appear Texas has only grid problem.

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NERC says much of North America will have adequate resources and electricity on hand this summer, but several markets are at risk of energy emergencies.

The Upper Midwest and mid-South along the Mississippi River will experience the highest risk this summer, NERC warns, where the retirement of old power plants and increased demand are troublesome. Furthermore, the region is without a key transmission line that was damaged by a tornado in December 2021. Texas, the West Coast and the Southwest are at an elevated risk.

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/19/us/blackouts-summer-heat-extreme-weather/index.html

1989 was well before my time in Texas, but another poster tried to blame Abbott and predecessor for not doing enough with population growth. I guess winters had rolling blackouts before them. 1989 didn’t seem to last as long as 2021, but article I read about it was more about Houston area. It also mentioned the below. Move to less emissions makes it hard to compare previous winters with 2021. Have to adapt and winterize to avoid in future.

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In the last 13 years, the generation mix on Texas’ power grid went from 45 percent natural gas, 38 percent coal, 13 percent nuclear and 2 percent wind to 47 percent natural gas, 20 percent coal, 20 percent wind and 11 percent nuclear, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid operator.

While that shift has resulted in fewer emissions, the loss of coal plants could have been a factor in the collapse of generating capacity during last month’s severe winter weather, Moura said. Those plants keep coal on site, and while coal piles can freeze up, it’s not hard to break them up and continue to operate.

Also, modern gas-fired plants, while more efficient, are more susceptible to freezing compared with the models of the 1980s.

“They are bigger, bulkier and less efficient, but they don’t have a lot of computer controls or valves, which can freeze up in cold weather,” Moura aid. “The older plants also are easier to dual fire, so you can burn oil if the gas supply runs low.”

During last month’s blackout, power companies reported shutting down gas plants due to natural gas shortages as wellheads froze and compressor stations along natural gas pipelines lost electricity, leaving the grid without sufficient power to meet demand for days.

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https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/A-tale-of-two-freezes-How-the-Texas-grid-stayed-16005807.php#photo-20710895

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As someone who has lived in TX for the last 7 years, the state really needs to get their shite together when it comes to power.

“Freedom” ain’t gonna get you far if your electric grid constantly shits the bed.

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Yep, Fix my damn power grid! I've lived here for 30 years and I don't GAF about Abbott's abortion law, building a wall, or anything else. I care that my power was shut off for 2 days when it was 15 degrees outside and that every time it gets about 90 they tell us we might have rolling blackouts!

Unacceptable!

Unfortunately I can only give you one upvote… but I would like to add 1000 more…

That was heck.. I had to wake up every hour for two days and run water in pipes and make sure my tailgate generator was on and keeping my little heater going I had in a tent I built around my pool equipment to make sure surface pipes did not freeze etc…

Really let a mark on me…