Texans need solutions in the aftermath of the storm

TexPIRG Interns share their experiences from the storm and call on the legislature to provide relief to Texans. 

Snow covered Cactus
Lauren Banister

Today, committees in the House and Senate held hearings to get to the bottom of the energy failures of last week and how we can move forward from here. 

The House is accepting public comments through Monday on the matter. 

Our interns shared their experiences and called on the legislature to provide relief to Texans.


TexPIRG interns offered the following public comments: 


My name is Emily Beeler, I am a freshman attending Austin Community College.

This past week we got hit with a winter storm worse than any citizen expected. The ice coated the trees in a thick layer of frozen water, weighing them down, snapping limbs both weak and strong onto the roofs of peoples homes and cars. 

Then Monday came and so did the snow. It seemed magical despite the underlying evil, known as climate change. Then it all went black. With the electricity gone, all work came to an immediate halt, stores shortened their hours, limiting time to stock up on supplies (if you could even get the supplies you needed, providing your store was able to receive new stock or keep their lights on), and heat became absent. 

The lack of heat was possibly the most detrimental effect of the lost power. Texans left to sleep in temperatures below freezing in their own homes. Pipes began to freeze and sometimes burst. Several people I know have holes where their ceiling should be due to water damage caused by leaks. Communities went on water boil notices, but many didn’t have power to boil the water. My classmates shared their stories with me and some boiled their water in their fireplaces. Their fireplaces! 

Days go by, and many are still scraping by as the aftermath of this failure unfolds. On top of the trauma induced by this storm, many are left with unexpected expenses including absurdly high electricity bills.I read of the couple who received $17,000 in electric bills for low quality and sometimes unavailable power. This couple is among so many who are receiving skyrocketing electric bills in the hundreds and thousands.

Texans have suffered enough because of the failure of our electric infrastructure. Why should we suffer more? 

I ask you to work with ERCOT, the PUCT, and Governor Greg Abbott to ensure that electric companies, not consumers, pay for the excessive prices of electricity. If you don’t, you set a dangerous precedent that companies can make huge profits during natural disasters. The quality of Texans lives matter! 

Looking forward to your action,

Emily Beeler

 

 


My name is Ethan Tobias and I am a longtime resident of San Antonio, Texas and currently attend St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. 

Texans were hit hard this past week with the winter weather directly affecting our state’s power grid, water filtration systems, and food supply lines. I was very fortunate to have electricity throughout this unprecedented event. However, my mind and thoughts were heavy when witnessing other Texans struggle with the very basic needs of having power and clean water. I did not feel like I was living in and witnessing the great state of Texas, that prides itself on being a state of innovation and strong energy infrastructure– I saw people gather in warming stations; shoveling snow to get water; or having a whole family sleep in one bed to stay warm. 

We need answers. We need solutions. 

The truth is that Texas was not prepared for this winter storm. The main culprits were uninsulated power plants run by natural gas. In northern states, such plants are built indoors; in Texas, the boilers and turbines are left exposed to the elements. Texas is not accustomed to weather below the teens. 

Our energy system failed – we have relied too much on fossil fuels and let companies cut corners on weatherizing them to make an extra buck on their bottom line. It’s time to stop worrying about the political or monetary cost for these common sense resilience strategies and invest in renewable energy systems and invest in systems that are proven to withstand all elements and account for unexpected events.  

Texans are not responsible for the aftermath of this energy crisis and should not be penalized by receiving astronomically high electricity bills. Why should we let the energy companies off the hook when their own negligence contributed to our power grid failing- no one should come out of this situation making a profit when lives were in peril. 

We ask you to work with ERCOT, the PUCT, and Gov. Abbott to ensure that electric companies, not consumers, pay for the excessive prices of electricity. 

Our homes lost power during this crisis because our state’s leaders took real power away from the people long ago and gave it to for-profit companies. It’s time for Texas to return the power to our families. This should never happen to Texans ever again. 

With hope for change,

Ethan Tobias 

 

 

My name is Logan Robichaud; I’m a full-time student at St. Edward’s University and a part-time employee at HEB.

Like many others, I did not anticipate there to be as severe a storm as we saw last week. Even before the power went out, the disruption to our lives was significant due to Texans’ unfamiliarity with cold-weather conditions, particularly on the unplowed roads. It seemed like our lives would be on-hold until the snow and ice melted. 

Then the power went out, for forty hours in my case. My first thoughts were small-minded: how would I do homework or charge my phone? But as the hours passed, the reality of the situation became clear: no one knew how long this would last. We took inventory of the fridge. We lit candles. Like most Texans, we made do with what we had.

When the power returned, water became our top priority. Us and those in our neighborhood were without water from Wednesday to Sunday. Without a timeline, we were unsure how to even approach this new dilemma. Not finding any support from our leaders, neighbors stepped up to ensure others were safe. Someone went around and offered their pool water. Others housed those whose homes had no heat. My cousin had neither water nor heat, while my aunt walked around her flooded apartment in flip-flops. And due to both flooding and power outages at the pharmacy, my diabetic grandfather has been without his medication for almost a week. During my Saturday shift at HEB, restocking shelves to feed our community, an unscheduled coworker showed up just to charge his phone and warm himself.

These are all stories of Texans with privileges: they have people on which they can rely, money to buy cases of water, insulated homes with some semblance of security. As we continue to hear stories of those most affected, it is painfully clear how disparities in privilege can be fatal. Especially when systems are not in place to help those most in need of assistance. 

Texas is still recovering financially, mentally, and emotionally from this disaster. High electric bills should not be a concern of anyone reeling from this storm; citizens suffered due to the insufficient infrastructure of energy companies. As one of those citizens, I call on you to work alongside ERCOT, the PUCT, and Governor Greg Abbott to ensure that citizens don’t continue to pay for the mistakes of companies. Without action, these companies have no incentive to change their practices; without change, these events will reoccur; and when they do, Texans will suffer.   

Thank you,

Logan Robichaud

Tell Governor Abbott: No price gouging on consumers' energy bills.

Tell Governor Abbott: No price gouging on consumers' energy bills.

Consumers weren't responsible for the massive shortfall of energy that the electric companies failed to produce, and they shouldn't have to foot the bill now that the damage is done. Don't let the electric companies make record profits off this natural disaster. Sign the petition to tell Governor Abbott to make electric companies pay for the massive spike in energy prices.

Sign Up

Topics
Authors

Lauren Banister

Find Out More