Rolling blackouts begin in Texas during a massive winter storm

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Texas power grid operator is deploying rolling blackouts across most of the state on Monday after a massive winter storm created unprecedented demand for electricity and forced multiple power-generating units offline.

The blackouts started at 1:25 am Central time. The Texas Electric Reliability Council said they will likely “ run all morning and can be started until this emergency is over. ”

“Every grid operator and utility company is fighting to restore power right now,” Bill Magness, ERCOT’s president and CEO, said in a press release.

The blackouts are designed to reduce electricity demand until capacity can be restored. ERCOT officials hinted on Sunday that they might be needed, saying they would most likely take anywhere from 10 minutes to 45 minutes at a time.

The storm that hit Texas is rare for both its size and intensity. On Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for all 254 counties. Cities like Dallas and Austin had single-digit temperatures on Monday morning. Close to the coast in places like Houston and Corpus Christi, it was back in the teens.

ERCOT announced on Sunday evening that it had set a winter record in power demand, namely 69,150 megawatts between 6pm and 7pm. ERCOT said Monday morning that 30,000 megawatts of power generation had been driven from the system. The network operator also said on Monday at 10.30 a.m. Central time to give an update.

The storm brought down much of the state. Numerous roads have been frozen, many schools closed, and at the request of Governor Greg Abbott, President Joe Biden has issued a federal statewide emergency declaration.