Sleepless in Midland

ERCOT -- Texas' fair weather friend

This seems like a you-had-one-job joke. Energy is reliable in Texas so long as the temperature is within the comfort zone, but not so much in extreme heat or cold. The Energy Reliability Council of Texas is a fair weather friend.

During this time of frigid temperatures -- falling to as low as one degree above zero in Midland -- energy has been anything but reliable as thousands of households have been without electricity.

Texans our outraged, and politicians are on alert. 'This is unacceptable.' Gov. Greg Abbott calls for reform of Electric Reliability Council of Texas:

“Reviewing the preparations and decisions by ERCOT is an emergency item so we can get a full picture of what caused this problem and find long-term solutions,” Abbott said.

Meanwhile, ERCOT helpfully explains:

ERCOT is restoring load as fast as we can in a stable manner. Generating units across fuel types continue to struggle with frigid temperatures.

They're probably doing the job the best they can. However, if the best they can do isn't good enough, it may be time for someone else to do the job.

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3:25 PM 2/16/2021

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Baby it's cold outside --7 degrees at 7am, 9 degrees at 9am

Out here in the desert that is Midland, Texas, the nights sometime get cold, but not usually this cold.

The temps here this morning were nothing to impress Northerners, but for us, it was damn cold.

At around 7am the temp was around 7ºF. And at 9am it was 9ºF.

 
Who couldn't love the symmetry?

What do ya do with a frozen Niagara Falls? Climb it!

The folks here in Midland, Texas, were grappling with a fraction of an inch of ice on the roads this morning. And that's bad enough for a place that's supposed to be experiencing a drought. But folks up North have to contend with this sort of thing all winter. And some seem to enjoy it.

Take Will Gadd, for example, climbing up a frozen wall of the Niagara Falls. The still photos are amazing enough. But if you want more, watch the one minute video:

Direct Youtube link.

Brrr.

Now there's a cool piano -- cool as ice

As seen behind a piano shop on a snowy day.