News Round-Up: February 2024

Dallas Morning News: Man suing Atmos Energy dies from injuries after Carrollton home explosion, attorney says

Feb. 22 — A man who sued Atmos Energy after his Carrollton home exploded last month has died, the law firm representing him said Thursday. Sergio Valdez, 51, died Saturday from “grave injuries” he sustained during the Jan. 20 explosion, attorney Jesus Garcia Jr. said in a written statement, adding that Valdez was “a loving, dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be dearly missed.”

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San Antonio Express-News: Who’s running for Texas Railroad Commission? Meet those vying to regulate the oil and gas industry

Feb. 20 — One seat on the three-member Railroad Commission of Texas, which oversees the state’s multibillion-dollar oil and gas industry, is up for election this year. The three powerful commissioners — who are generally little known outside the energy sector — also have primary regulatory jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas utilities and mining operations. In this year’s elections, Chair Christi Craddick will begin defending her seat in the March 5 primary. In addition to the Republican incumbent and her primary challenger Jim Matlock, candidates Bill Burch and Katherine Culbert are facing off in the Democratic primary.

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WLBT: Atmos discovered gas leaks weeks before Mississippi explosions, according to report

Feb. 20 — (JACKSON, Miss.) Initial findings into the natural gas explosions in Jackson that left one woman dead and destroyed three homes reveal the service provider knew of leaks at both sites weeks before they occurred and never fixed them. On Tuesday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its initial findings on the explosions, which occurred on Bristol Avenue and Shalimar Drive last month.

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WFAA: Atmos wants judge to declare it’s not liable in Fort Worth hotel explosion, court filing says

Jan. 31 — Atmos Energy, the North Texas natural gas provider company, wants a judge to absolve it from responsibility in the downtown Fort Worth hotel explosion earlier this month, according to recent court filings.

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Utility Dive: Texas to explore new grid recovery options after 82% of black-start units failed during Winter Storm Uri

Feb. 2 — The state should consider how its growing battery storage resources could help with system recovery in the event of a widespread grid collapse, said PUC Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty.

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WFAA: Residents seeing much higher than usual Atmos energy bills

Feb. 1 — Some residents are complaining after getting their bills from Atmos Energy this month, showing statements much higher than normal.  People arguing over the bills are saying their bills are hundreds of dollars more than usual in some cases.

Bloomberg: Power Trader Challenges Texas Grid Policy Over Price Spikes

Feb. 7 — Texas grid officials received repeated warnings last summer that their efforts to shore up the state’s increasingly strained electric grid risked driving up power prices, records show.

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Bloomberg: Power Trader Challenges Texas Grid Policy Over Price Spikes

Feb. 13 — A power trader is challenging Texas regulators over a new policy he says led to billions of dollars in higher wholesale electricity prices.

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Texas Tribune: Lubbock residents have long dreamed of cheaper electricity. Will Texas’ open market deliver?

Feb. 14 —  For nearly 25 years, much of Texas’ population have lived in a city that participates in the state’s open energy marketplace. But not the residents of Lubbock, who have been serviced exclusively by one electric company — Lubbock Power & Light, the city’s municipal provider. For more than a decade, residents have desperately wanted an open market, sharing their dissatisfaction with their bills.

Residents now have what they long wished for — Lubbock’s electric market is open.

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CleanTechnica: Texas Shatters Own Solar Power Record, Weird Political Situation Or Not

Feb. 15 — The Texas grid recorded a solar power jump of 46% in January this year compared to January 2023, climbing from 1.5 million megawatt-hours to 2.2 million.

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WFAA: Democrats introduce bill to connect Texas to national power grids

Feb. 14 — Democrats representing Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives will file legislation that would force Texas to connect its power grid to other states and limit ERCOT’s control over the system’s operation, the group announced Wednesday.  U.S. Rep Greg Casar, D-Austin, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, will sponsor the so-called “Connect the Grid Act” in the House.

— See the Report.

Bloomberg: New Texas Fossil-Fuel Power Plant Planned to Shore Up Shaky Grid

Feb. 12 — A new, natural gas-fired power plant is planned for central Texasthat will bolster the Lone Star State’s electricity grid while threatening to slow any transition away from fossil fuels.

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KETK: Texans to vote on funding to increase electric grid’s ‘reliability’

Feb. 12 — Texans will soon vote on a proposition that would create funding to increase “reliability” for Texas’ electric grid in the upcoming election. Texas Proposition 7, originating from S.J.R. 93, would create the Texas Energy Fund, which would support and finance the “construction, maintenance, and modernization of electric generating facilities.”

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The New Republic: Take a Cue From Texas: Socialize Energy

Feb. 12— Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick says the state should step in if the private sector fails to build natural gas facilities. How about renewables instead?

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Bloomberg: Texas Governor Says State Power Supply Needs to Grow 10% to 15%

Feb. 7 — Texas Governor Greg Abbott said his state will need to grow its power supply capacity by as much as 15% annually to keep up with rising demand from homes and businesses.

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