EXPLAINER: Challenges from intense summer heat raise questions about Texas power grid's reliability

abcnews.go.com:

This summer’s sweltering heat has put tremendous stress on Texas’ power grid, with the state setting 10 new records for electricity demand

HOUSTON — Texas’ power grid has been under tremendous stress during this summer’s sweltering heat, with the state setting 10 new records for electricity demand.

The grid's reliability has been questioned by residents and lawmakers since a deadly winter blackout in 2021 knocked out power to millions of customers for days and resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Concerns were renewed this week after Texas’ power grid manager issued an emergency alert due to low reserves and high demand. Following the alert, the U.S. Department of Energy granted an emergency order allowing Texas to temporarily suspend emissions rules so power plants could produce enough electricity to prevent outages.

The summer heat isn’t subsiding as high temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) were expected in much of Texas through the weekend.

This summer’s challenges have raised more questions about the power grid’s reliability and what more the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid manager, should do to shore it up.

Significant changes included mandates for plants to weatherize for the cold. Texas lawmakers also passed bills this year aimed at providing incentives for the development of more “on-demand” generation — not including renewables like wind or solar — to keep up with the state's fast-growing population. But it’s not clear whether that will entice companies to build.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the changes have fixed “all of the flaws” that caused one of the largest power outages in U.S. history. But skepticism remains.

Energy experts say Texas isn’t doing enough to ease