AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Officials with the state's electric grid operator said Thursday they've completed inspections of winterization efforts, and more than 300 electric generation units are ready for the winter weather to come.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, said it's filed a preliminary summary inspection report with the Public Utility Commission, and will file a final report on January 18 for review and potential enforcement action.
ERCOT manages the state's electric grid, serving more than 26 million Texans and about 90 percent of the state's electrical demand, while independent owners and operators are responsible for winterizing their equipment to newly-established state standards. Earlier this year, the Texas Legislature increased the maximum penalty for operators who violate the state's weatherization rules to $1 million per day, per violation.
“Texans can be confident the electric generation fleet and the grid are winterized and ready to provide power,” said ERCOT's Woody Rickerson. “New regulations require all electric generation and transmission owners to make significant winterization improvements and our inspections confirm they are prepared.”
ERCOT officials say only 10 of the 302 generation units inspected had issues identified that required correction, and many have corrected the deficiencies since the inspections occurred.
Likewise, six of 22 transmission station facilities inspected by ERCOT teams required corrective actions - many of which have also already been addressed.
The inspected units, ERCOT says, represent about 85 percent of the generation capacity lost during February's winter storm.