CenterPoint Energy criticized for power outages in Houston area
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called on CenterPoint Energy to come up with a comprehensive plan as thousands are still without power.
- Republican Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco proposed a new strategy at X over the weekend to improve power grid reliability in the Texas heat.
- Patterson suggests keeping schools closed in July and August – the hottest months of the year – and says opening them during that time “makes no sense.”
A Texas lawmaker could propose a bill that would delay the start of the school year until after Labor Day to reduce strain on the power grid.
Republican Rep. Jared Patterson of Frisco proposed a new strategy to improve power grid reliability in the Texas heat over the weekend on X, just days after ERCOT reported record demand and thousands of Austin Energy customers experienced power outages due to the extreme heat.
“With 1,100 new arrivals a day and an ever-growing economy, opening schools before Labor Day is a terribly wasteful strain on our power grid,” Patterson wrote online.
The congressman proposes keeping schools closed in July and August – the hottest months of the year – because opening them during this time “makes no sense.” This year, most Texas school districts opened in mid-August, some as early as July 23.
The post ends with the hashtag #billideas, suggesting that Patterson intends to introduce this policy proposal in the legislature. The 89th regular legislative session, which will last 140 days, begins on January 14 next year and ends on June 2.
Patterson’s concerns come as Texans are increasingly concerned about the stability of the power grid following the devastating statewide blackout caused by Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which left more than 240 people dead.
More: When is Labor Day 2024? Why it is a national holiday
Patterson opposes the Connect the Grid law
Problems with the Texas power grid are nothing new for Patterson.
Earlier this year, the congressman opposed the Connect the Grid Act, which would have connected the Lone Star State’s power grid to surrounding national grids to increase reliability and reduce costs. Patterson argued that federal policies were already causing problems with the state’s power grid by discouraging investments in natural gas and nuclear power through state incentives for wind and solar energy.
“The federal government is already intervening too far in our power grid,” Patterson said in February.
