Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule

Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule

https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-12-15/texas-power-plants-have-no-responsibility-to-provide-electricity-in-emergencies-judges-rule

KUT 90.5 | By Mose Buchele
Published December 15, 2023 at 3:39 PM CST

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Ice on trees and power lines in south Austin during a winter storm on Feb. 18, 2021.
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

The decision now leaves the families of those who died during the 2021 blackout unsure where next to seek justice.

Almost three years since the deadly Texas blackout of 2021, a panel of judges from the First Court of Appeals in Houston has ruled that big power companies cannot be held liable for failure to provide electricity during the crisis. The reason is Texas’ deregulated energy market.

The decision seems likely to protect the companies from lawsuits filed against them after the blackout. It leaves the families of those who died unsure where next to seek justice.

In February of 2021, a massive cold front descended on Texas, bringing days of ice and snow. The weather increased energy demand and reduced supply by freezing up power generators and the state’s natural gas supply chain. This led to a blackout that left millions of Texans without energy for nearly a week.

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