Valentine Weekend’s Icy Embrace

Power Grid Stretched to Limit

Icy weather caused numerous power outages across Fayette County beginning last Thursday, Feb. 11.

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and Fayette Electric Cooperative reported outages in the West Point, Kirtley and Muldoon areas on Thursday. Will Holford with Bluebonnet Electric told the Record that cold weather affected some substation equipment belonging to the coop’s power supplier, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Holford said LCRA adjusted some settings to the equipment and was able to restore power about three hours later.

Holford said the outage on Thursday affected about 800 Bluebonnet customers.

Then on Sunday morning, Fayette Electric reported an outage that affected customers in Breslau, Moravia, Moulton, and areas north of Hallettsville and south of Flatonia. Most of those customers had their power restored by around noon. Another outage on Sunday affected FEC customers in Ammannsville and Nechanitz.

Both Fayette Electric and Bluebonnet Electric called in extra crews last week to help out with the expected outages.

Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which manages the Texas electric grid, asked consumers and businesses to reduce their electricity use as much as possible between Sunday, Feb. 14 through Tuesday, Feb. 16.

“We are experiencing record-breaking electric demand due to the extreme cold temperatures that have gripped Texas,” said ERCOT President and CEO Bill Magness. “At the same time, we are dealing with higher-than-normal generation outages due to frozen wind turbines and limited natural gas supplies available to generating units. We are asking Texans to take some simple, safe steps to lower their energy use during this time.”

Here are some tips to reduce electricity use:

Turn down thermostats to 68-degrees. Close shades and blinds to

Close shades and blinds to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.

Turn off and unplug nonessential lights and appliances.

Avoid using large appliances (i.e., ovens, washing machines, etc.).

Businesses should minimize the use of electric lighting and electricity-consuming equipment as much as possible.

Large consumers of electricity should consider shutting down or reducing non-essential production processes.

Given the prolonged, belowfreezing temperatures, conservation measures should be implemented safely and within reason, ERCOT said in a press release on Sunday.