Beyond Uri: A History of Texas Grid Failures Every Homeowner Should Know

Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 captured national attention and became synonymous with Texas grid failure. But Uri wasn't the first time the ERCOT grid let Texans down, and unfortunately, it wasn't the last. Understanding this history helps explain why energy independence matters so much for North Texas homeowners.

Let's go back to February 2011, a decade before Uri. A severe cold snap swept across Texas, and the grid buckled. Rolling blackouts affected millions of customers. Power plants that weren't winterized failed when temperatures dropped. Sound familiar? Federal regulators issued recommendations for weatherization. Those recommendations were largely ignored, setting the stage for the larger disaster ten years later.

Hurricane Harvey in 2017 demonstrated another vulnerability. While primarily a coastal disaster, the storm's impact on power infrastructure affected communities across a wide swath of Texas. Over 300,000 customers lost power at the peak, with some waiting weeks for restoration. The hurricane highlighted how extreme weather events can cascade through interconnected systems.

Summer 2019 brought a different kind of crisis. Record heat drove electricity demand to all-time highs. ERCOT repeatedly called for conservation, asking Texans to turn up thermostats and reduce usage during peak hours. The grid narrowly avoided blackouts, but the close calls revealed how little margin existed between adequate supply and crisis.

After Uri, many hoped lessons had been learned. Then came December 2022 and Winter Storm Elliott. Once again, extreme cold stressed the system. While the outcome wasn't as catastrophic as Uri, some areas experienced blackouts. The grid lost significant generation capacity as temperatures plunged. Questions about whether weatherization requirements were actually being enforced resurfaced.

The summers following Uri continued the pattern of strain. In 2022 and 2023, ERCOT issued multiple conservation alerts during heat waves. Texans were asked to limit electricity use during the hottest hours to prevent grid emergencies. These requests essentially acknowledged that the system operates with thin safety margins.

May 2024 brought severe thunderstorms across North Texas that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of homes. Some customers waited days for restoration as crews worked to repair widespread damage. Spring storms, which don't get the same attention as winter freezes or summer heat, demonstrated that grid vulnerability exists year-round.

This history isn't meant to inspire fear but to encourage realistic planning. The Texas grid will face future challenges. Weather extremes aren't going away. Demand continues to grow. Homeowners who prepare accordingly protect their families from disruption.

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