Texas weather

[Dave Grubb]

I heard on the news the other night that it was 17 F in Dallas---and so I just took a couple of minutes to check in on you Texas boys----and you are still in the chill

Dallas and Tyler at 30 F , Houston at 43 F and poor Joe at 36 F and a thunderstorm

We pretty much haven't been above freezing in more than a week (it could be a lot more) and it snows about every other day---but that is more like a "normal" winter used to be like for us. The deer seem to be perplexed by the snow---they have been staying close to the house and nipping the buds and young shoots on the shrubbery rather than paw through the snow for grass. It is only in the last few days I have seen a few pawed areas.

One interesting observation: when we got the first snow the ice on the ponds was pretty thin. The deer tracks skirted the ponds after the snow--despite the fact that the ponds were then snow covered and there was no clear demarcation of the edge of the ponds. Only now have I seen tracks across the ice---and not many of them. Somehow they sense what is under the snow.

[Phillbo]

No winter in Az this year......

[Dave Grubb]

While I was at it I did check in on you---at 70F ---does that mean you layer up before going outside?

[Truckman]

I warned my tenant to drip a faucet this weekend, supposed to be subfreezing......Ben

[Phillbo]

You kind of have too if you're going to be outside all day I wore a long sleeve jersey on my ride this morning and am currently in shorts and a t shirt. The desert can get some big swings in temp. 40's at night and close to the 80's in the day time this week.

[Mike]

It's supposed to get down to 6 here Monday night.

[Sandman]

Welcome to ‘Merica!

We are in the middle of three days of “wintery mix”.. deck has 1/2 inch of slush.. it will be gone soon and we will have 1/2 inch of ice..

We are already getting the “Texan driving in winter “ videos..

Good luck..

[Dave Grubb]

Don't mention redundancy to your grid manager, that concept doesn't seem to be part of the plan.

[Mike]

Don't mention redundancy to your grid manager, that concept doesn't seem to be part of the plan.

It has been cussed and discussed for years. Mostly during summer when heat causes the grid to stress and sometimes break.

The truth of the matter is that the generation and distribution companies don't want to spend the money to improve things. They also do not want outside competition, hence a standalone grid.

The legislators like what the lobbyists are handing out so nothing is going to change.

I hate politicians!

[Dave Grubb]

I have been reading about it in semi technical writings the last couple of days, you are in a bad place without much hope for correcting past mistakes. It seems to all lay at the feet of your politicians.....and ultimately the voters.

[Mike]

The ice storm started an hour or so ago. It could spell real disaster if it brings down tree limbs and power lines.

We've been lucky with electricity since the wee hours of this morning. Hope it lasts.

[Dave Grubb]

One of the more puzzling things I have seen is an aerial shot of of a conventional generation plant. Assuming it is actually in Texas, I believe it to be a recent photo since there is snow on the ground. The plant obviously is not on line!
It is also clear that the media has not figured that out yet because they don't mention it.
I have read there are gas line disruptions and at least part of that plant is gas firered.

[Mike]

Several generation plants are down because the cooling systems froze. Some natural gas wells and pipelines are down due to freezing and lack of power to run the pumps.

A nuke plant is even down due to freezing.

[Dave Grubb]

Not to be critical but my impression of what you are going through with your grid could be attributed to piss poor planning.

[Mike]

You are correct but the generation and distribution companies have no incentive to improve their infrastructure because the legislature gives them a pass.

With the legislature currently in-session with Austin paralyzed some pissed off legislators might actually do something to earn their keep. At least I can dream!