this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
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Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule (www.kut.org)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/9672745

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.

The state has said almost 250 people died because of the winter storm and blackout, but some analysts call that a serious undercount.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I think Texas is in for a rude awakening one of these days, when they realize that electricity doesn't care if you are poor or rich, it just does what it wants.

Sure, the rich can insulate themselves with solor power and generators. Though I think the public perception will win out at the end. As people, even the rich, realize that 3rd world countries only have these problems.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

That's definitely a third world country problem.

I don't know how Texas can even call itself part of the first world when it doesn't even provide reliable electricity to the people that pay them for the electricity.

[–] TehWorld 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m (still) in TX and bought a generator this summer.

[–] hdnsmbt 1 points 1 year ago

The free market taking care of any and all problems again. See? The system works fine!