Over One Million Harris County Residents Without Power As Temperatures Plunge Below Freezing – Houston Public Media

Both Judge Lina Hidalgo and Centerpoint Energy’s Kenny Mercado emphasized the need to protect the integrity of Texas’s entire energy grid. According to Mercado, the automated rolling blackout that began last night protects the grid from total collapse.

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Kenny Mercado, CenterPoint Energy Executive Vice President, Electric Utility describes the rolling blackout conditions that prevent the entire state of Texas’s power grid from total collapse. According to Mercado, houses are outfitted with digital meters that automatically alert CenterPoint to power outages so those who are without power do not need to directly contact them. Frank Billingsley, KPRC Chief Meteorologist, describes the generational weather conditions that have brought down a mixture of rain, sleet, and snow that have frozen roads, pipes, and homes overnight and what to expect tonight as the weather drops again. Judge Lina Hidalgo describes Harris County’s condition after the initial freeze and described the balance between energy demand and supply. Electric Reliability Council of Texas is also working to ensure that “any electricity production is going to households and hospitals,” according to Judge Hidalgo. Emily Black, Public Information Officer for the Texas Department of Transportation, describes the road conditions and what road hazards drivers can expect to see. TXDOT is advising to remain off the roads as black ice will return when the sun sets and roads must remain clear for emergency responders. Carol Ellinger Haddock, Director of Houston Public Works, dispels the “tip” to keep faucets on. Houstonians are told to turn off their water to keep the water pressure up and running in the city.

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Source: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/town-square/2021/02/15/391520/over-one-million-harris-county-residents-without-power-as-temperatures-plunge-below-freezing/?utm_source=rss-town-square-article&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=hpm-rss-link