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Post: Texas had most weather-related power outages in last 20 years, report shows

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Home | Texas had most weather-related power outages in last 20 years, report shows

Posted 3 years ago | 3 minute read

Eirgrid warns of “challenging” winter

The Texas power grid has recently proved less than capable of handling extreme cold and hot weather events, according to Climate Central.

In a report published on September 15, the non-profit group noted that the average annual number of weather-related power outages increased by roughly 78% during 2011-2021, compared to 2000-2010. Between 2000 and 2021, the US had 1,542 weather-related power outages. The report says that 58% of outages from 2000 to 2021 were caused by severe weather such as high winds, rain, and thunderstorms, winter storms were the second most cause at 22%. 

Source: Climate Central

By region, the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast experienced the greatest number of weather-related outages from 2000-2021. The states with the most reported weather-related power outages from 2000-2021 were: Texas (180), Michigan (132), California (129), North Carolina (97), and Pennsylvania (82).

According to the report,most of the nation’s electrical infrastructure wasn’t built to function in our present-day climate. Further warming could impact electricity system performance, resilience, and capacity to meet demand. Climate Central says that more attention should be put toward bolstering power grids with modern technology while also investing in renewable energy capacity.  

GridBeyond SVP North America Wayne Muncaster said:

“We are in the middle of the 2nd major transition since the industrial revolution in the early 1900s. Increased global demand for power and proliferation of renewable power generation are driving change, but the effects of climate change also increase electricity demand and compromise electricity supply.

“As our climate continues to change, the impacts of extreme weather on power infrastructure will be exacerbated. But there are a number of promising and innovative solutions to build electricity security into our system now while mitigating the impact of the energy price rises we have seen over recent months.

“We can no longer take access to cheap energy for granted and grid operators need to carefully consider what will fill the gap when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine. There are lessons that can be learned from other countries who are further ahead in the transition, but the key trend across markets is that grid operators and utilities are placing a premium on flexibility. This creates opportunities for C&I consumers to earn revenue and realize savings through sophisticated energy market participation”.

Let GridBeyond’s AI platform do all the hard work to help you improve your energy spend and increase margins.

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