How did the widespread power outages happen in Texas? A grid expert explains

Grid expert Dr. Gerald Turner talks about the current power outages across Texas and how the winter storm event from 2011 plays a factor.

[@wendygerrish4964]

Great news journalism to post this interview. Finally a relatively independent, objective, view point from someone qualified

[@okijima15]

Same situation happened before But, didn't bother to upgrade the system for unpredictable weather It's pure Negligence

[@yasminhabibti721]

Yes, indeed.

[@karenkerr4360]

With a side of egregious prices gouging. $300 bill becomes $8000. Who oversees rate regulation. Asleep @ the wheel

[@jes2276]

I'm from the future 2031. They still haven't made any improvements

[@DigitalDissident]

So corrupt career politicians are still in charge then too, that's unfortunate.

[@deplorablepocdetejas1989]

A continuation of useless diversity hires.

[@sdrake74]

🤣🤣

[@purplebutterflykisses8004]

This is just a dam shame negligence is the key word here. I'm so sorry sending my prayers and best wishes for Texans. 🙏🙏🙏❤

[@juliaweber212]

I agree Texas had power outage in 2011 and they promised to fix to improve it and up grade it. It sounds like government didn’t follow through on improving the power plant.

[@matthiatt6834]

Purple Butterfly Kisses thanks. So many others seem to be taking pleasure in our suffering, saying we deserve it for political reasons.

[@villaniousmustache4898]

@F T why are you here? Lol? You haven't even made a coherent sentence at all. Pathetic

[@chedrcheez6862]

It sounds like greed.

[@LukeSkywalker-ig3mc]

Many still without power our place just came back after 3 days without power. My kids so tired of going to the car to warm up

[@chocol8milk]

Root Cause: Lack of (or no) regulation.

[@Ultrajamz]

They really just need one regulation requiring X amount of winterization. That’s it. Some people are really over doing it in what they are calling for

[@hope4humanity222]

They also need to use our tax money and put it into building better infrastructure. I’m sick of flooding every year in Houston metro. Rebuilding our home twice has not been easy. Everything has been due to poor planning, exorbitant contract fees/costs (because that’s what contractors do with government work) that then don’t make the cut in legislation, and too much going back and forth with no decisions being made until a catastrophe occurs. Every single time.

[@deplorablepocdetejas1989]

DemocRATS👎 ruin everything with regulation.

[@HazMat728]

@@deplorablepocdetejas1989 Must be why Democratic states have electricity in sub-zero weather. Enjoy the snow Tejas ❄️

[@deplorablepocdetejas1989]

@@HazMat728 pfft, no way a limp wristed idiot with a Gender studies degree is running the power grid.

[@shaywatts6338]

Day 4 no power 😰

[@sarahshanahan2222]

Where are you!! I'm near san antonio and its inconsistent here

[@shaywatts6338]

@@sarahshanahan2222 Dallas

[@purplebutterflykisses8004]

Sorry to hear that. Sending my prayers and best wishes for you. 🙏🙏

[@sarahshanahan2222]

@@shaywatts6338 I'm so sorry!!

[@txdbstx8967]

Arlington has power. I have a friend in Oak Cliff that has power. They are doing rolling blackouts and they prioritize certain areas and blackout other less important grids. Go near a Walmart or police station and they'll have power.

[@Phisx9567]

Gregg Abbott should resign and the power plants and their CEOs who didnt winterize should be brought to justice. People are dying while some company are profiteering.

[@gabe1310]

Worst part is they are raising energy prices to make people limit their power instead of fixing the production problem

[@MegaTriumph1]

"Deregulation" always has problems its the recipe for a disaster every single time.

[@Ultrajamz]

As is over-regulation. Hope people dont overreact to this

[@EverydayYounglife]

Its not even deregulation, Texas didn't follow the regulations already in place.

[@okok7895]

Great job reporting, this man should be on the national team of our government,

[@matthiatt6834]

Funny how every video has buffer forever and the comments won’t load but the ads never fail.

[@rogerdavies8586]

Adblocker

[@yasminhabibti721]

"Bundled up with your families"?!? A lot of people are completely alone experiencing this.

[@whitebuffalodesigns1963]

I luckily still have power but still freezing and the water froze anyway. I don't even have a car to get out of here if my power goes down. This tiny rural town has shutdown. No roads cleared. No trash pickup of course. No mail. No answer at City Hall. No way to get food or water. Can't flush the toilet.

[@sheyanderson9498]

Network with your neighbors if u can. Use melting snow to flush your toilet.

[@iamgabriel5823]

You might try running your hair dryer on the frozen pipes -- and hope they are not cracked. Wishing you the best.

[@villaniousmustache4898]

@F T or go away

[@charliehier8865]

This whole situation is awful. I haven’t heard from the national guard or the president. This is an emergency

[@villaniousmustache4898]

@@charliehier8865 the president doesn't care about the people. Neither of the parties. Lol. Quit thinking they care.

[@thedude4594]

This might be the only intelligent person I’ve heard discussing this.

[@boatymsboatface3929]

Right?!!

[@matthiatt6834]

Jeff Payne or Honest. The others, Abbot, ERCOT, They know but they are prioritizing their profits over all else and none have the balks to admit it.

[@wendygerrish4964]

@@matthiatt6834 Excatly...although they would loose their jobs if they did and..sort of black listed.

[@kaya051285]

The cost to this will be vast not just electricity grid but think of all the burst pipes that flooded homes and damaged walls floor ceilings electronics cloths

[@hope4humanity222]

Horrible. I can’t even fathom it. And btw...where’s FEMA??? Crickets...

[@RedspawnSilver]

@@hope4humanity222 They're already responding, get over it...

[@hope4humanity222]

@@RedspawnSilver where are they??? I haven’t seen or heard ANYTHING and neither have my friends in Cypress or The Woodlands.

[@marekkolenda1981]

Tesla electric cars not working in TX right now no power

[@wim0104]

and too cold, even for lithium

[@michaelbyrd6425]

Some people are saying when they can get them charged, it's costing up to $900.

[@marekkolenda1981]

@@michaelbyrd6425 Its depending on consumer contract with energy corporation's.But this can be resolve in small court case court fee is 40$.

[@michaelbyrd6425]

@@marekkolenda1981 I hear ya!

[@dreyent7822]

All of south austin is still outta power

[@roberthutchison8416]

I watched both videos and neither said ssid what failed and how this happened? Please let people know how the weather affected the power plants. They are going back on line so it couldn't have been that bad. Tell the story.

[@marekkolenda1981]

If everything is well organized takes 2 to 3 days for local officials deal with snow storms.

[@juliaweber212]

Or any high winds or floods this shouldn’t be new this should be important obviously the government didn’t think it was important at this time but after 2011 they had time to prepare.

[@glenbrown8215]

They didn't invest in there Maintaining their system they should have a game plan intact the local government is the blame if they weren't so crooked and kept the money in their pockets they would have an updated Power System now they are blaming everyone else.

[@gregfuzi1069]

Let go with the cost of building a power plant. I'm a boiler maker we help build power houses that make electricity. There not cheap. And you don't build one in a week. I worked for garden city fan co. In niles Michigan building the fans and housings for cooling the power houses. Ones a boiler maker always a boiler maker. We are the proud.

[@peterblack1639]

Knock knock who's there? Your power bill and it's way higher....

[@victoriataylor5584]

I don't know about higher.

[@marialaurel6440]

What happened to check and balances? Why wasn't this checked by the energy commission? Heads need to roll, fire those that didn't do their jobs as promised, enough of the BS!!

[@Anna-hc1yl]

Because none of this is regulated by the government.

[@oldperson951]

The windmills in Antarctica have a built in hydraulic pump that sends hydraulic fluid through an orifice, which increases the fluid temperature and the blades have hydraulic lines built into them, which uses the heat generated to melt the ice off of the turbine blades, keeping the wind turbines in operation at subzero temperatures. The hydraulic system used for heating the blades is manufactured by Fox Hydraulics. When building and installing the wind turbines in Texas, the engineers probably did not consider that temperatures would ever get so cold in Texas, so the system was probably not used for that application in Texas. Verify if other windmills in colder climates have this system in place, and there is your answer. I would be inclined to believe the hydraulic turbine blade heating systems are installed in Northern US and Canadian systems.the solution for the long run would be to begin boring tunnels and running the power and water/wastewater underground. tunnels so large that service trucks are able to enter and travel underground, as well as underground storage areas for pumps, transformers and other spare parts and personel. Its very sad that instead of solving problems, the politcal leaders shout down each other and finger point, with the false belief that the loudest voice is the correct answer. When Puerto Rico was destroyed by hurricane about 10 yrs ago, the govt should have began installing tunnels to run the power and water/ wastewater infrastructure through. Since the power distribution in texas is mostly above ground, once ice began forming on the power lines, the power had to be shut down to prevent it from electrocuting people and destroying the electrical infrastructure. Having lived in Florida for nearly 50 years, its not uncommon for the electrical utility to cut power during strong storms and hurricanes and then powering back up once the areas are dried up enough to prevent it from shorting out. Water is highly conductive of electricity, FYI, but no one in the media has mentioned this. I am retired civil service, so I have experienced this many times. One section of town may have power, simply because it has higher elevation and the power grid in that area is safe to re-energize, whereas the lowest elevation areas are the last to have electricity restored.

[@gothicdragonwarriorqueen5819]

I'm pretty lucky I have power at my home ! I feel sad for the others without power ! I hope they'll get back soon and I hope the snow will melt quickly this weekend!Hang in there, FRIENDS! 🙂❤🌈🌞🐦🦋⚘

[@snes06]

Accountable... what does that mean?

[@RetiredPilot]

When they turned off the power to the Nat gas suppliers the rest was inevitable.

[@tomkrzyt]

C'mon folks! You should enjoy that Ted Cruz was safe and relaxed in Cancun

[@jonwhick3073]

It was a o c's fault obv.

[@RedspawnSilver]

Lol, yea... it's so funny, blame an out of state Rep on your in-state problems... yup, republitards at their finest.

[@eleven903]

What EVER YOU DO, DO NOT run your vehicle in a garage that is closed!! IF you don't know this, you can die of carbon monoxide poisoning in a very short time! Believe it or not, some people DO NOT know it. WFAA, PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON THIS! PLEASE make sure that people you know do not do this. Also, if they have a heat source inside, make sure that they have some way to vent out the exhaust.

[@DanielOrtiz-tt3ik]

CAN U SAY NEW CEO OF ERCOT .. LOOK AT THE ANSWERS HE GIVES ..

[@Twilightsummerbreeze]

He seems to smirk as he gives his answers. He must be in collusion with the Globalists/China to shut down America.

[@Phl-ou6vn]

While the green energy stocks crash today, Elon Musk is moving to Texas. A free battery to keep warm is coming to your neighborhood.

[@firebladeboost4766]

Where's my taxes go?

[@clarkkent3730]

This is why off grid living should be learned by every co-dependent American!

[@RedspawnSilver]

So, you're saying, all the 79 and 80 year old's fending for themselves should be learning off grid living... think you have a lack of understanding of how there are other people in this world that aren't your age.

[@kimmydaisymaltese1111]

I'm glad I didn't move to Texas.

[@madhatter9001]

Gov. Abbit and the GOP must go. Texas must have regulation of ERCOT, NOW! I voted for Abbit and I am sorry I did.

[@marekkolenda1981]

Climate change locals official needs to be ready for this 24/7

[@juliaweber212]

I agree I hope my state is prepared that’s scary

[@manuelgomez1166]

Texas population is growing with people going there from California and other states to Texas needs to increasing the power requirements.

[@gregc6107]

Please just think about what your saying, They are building apts and houses at the pace that the infrastructure can handle, this is all planned, contracted, and accounted for. It does not matter if a lot of people are moving here, the infrastructure can handle the amount of buildings using the power

[@villaniousmustache4898]

@@gregc6107 they can but not when everything is freezing up because THEY HAVEN'T PREPARED FOR THIS AT ALL like we keep saying

[@gregc6107]

@@villaniousmustache4898 yes but it's only freezing up because they didn't want to pay to winterize it. The blame falls directly on the people in charge. They gambled with millions of people's lives and now we have to pay

[@yesenias7977]

@@villaniousmustache4898 you just got servveedd

[@victoriataylor5584]

@@gregc6107 certainly not Gov. Abbott because he told everyone what to do about making it through these frigid cold temperatures. He's investigating ERCOT right now as we speak because it was something THEY were doing. They were rotating, and cutting off power to certain families so that they could preserve power. They're saying that most of the power is frozen right now.

[@joecummings1260]

This guy's an engineer that designs nuclear power plants and he believes in fram filters. Somehow that's not very confidence-inspiring. By the way, in the world of heavy equipment and machinery fram is known as being one of the worst filter manufacturers. They have such a bad reputation that nobody really ever use them except as a last resort. I can't even remember the last time I saw one on a piece of heavy equipment or industrial machinery

[@sylvesterstewart868]

All electric homes not such a great idea.

[@victoriataylor5584]

We need to go battery operated.

[@sylvesterstewart868]

@@victoriataylor5584 That will take alot of batterie$. and a way to charge them.

[@jonathangarmuth8975]

You know those houses are able to generate power right?

[@sylvesterstewart868]

@@jonathangarmuth8975 How?

[@jonathangarmuth8975]

@@sylvesterstewart868 solar panels on residential homes that have battery storage.

[@Marchant2]

Root Cause: Republican know-how, or lack thereof.

[@mathildaapril1175]

It has nothing to do with republican. More of a democrat as they want to use green energy more, such as wind turbines. Look into it before commenting. I am from California. I see this kind of things a lot. Texas copied California. So, it has the same faith.

[@relaws52]

Follow El Paso's plan

[@khrystleooo6994]

Keep paying your taxes, the government loves you 😂

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

Depend on private corporations and freeze to death in the dark.

[@420_vacations_worldwide]

The mass reset

[@lv6852]

so will there soon be new openings available in this facility? oh, never mind it's a republicon-led mess, move along, nothing to see here mentality!

[@deplorablepocdetejas1989]

Yeah right, we all know it's occupied with useless and unaccountable diversity hires, from outside of Texas. DemocRATS ruined they're own states, left it and moved on into Texas.

[@HazMat728]

I thought it was AOC and Antifa wat dun it

[@connie894]

Sorry I don't believe him!!! This was o n purpose people

[@michael2244]

How did this happen? A major winter storm just came through the area. Stop blaming and pointing fingers.

[@gabe1310]

You're forgetting the state deregulated the grid and didn't bother to winterize or keep up with the required maintenance. So yeah there are people to blame

[@LibrasLion]

@@gabe1310 Exactly!

[@peteeyg.66]

does any commentator here know if these wind turbine distractions have anything to do with the Russian hacks??

[@RedspawnSilver]

No, they didn't properly weather proof them... they have wind turbines in all of those other northern states that have weather proofed them and none of them are having the issues the unregulated Texans are having with their turbines...

[@clarkkent3730]

That is one of the most non-answer answers I've ever heard

[@RedspawnSilver]

well, you need to clean out your ears then

[@billnorris8457]

I have no idea who this guy is. But he is no expert. Three years after Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico's electric grid, the island is still dealing with unreliable service and intermittent power outages, especially in rural areas. ... He said Puerto Rico's nationalized system didn't work and on top of that, it ran up $13 billion in debt to pensioners and bondholders.Jul 10, 2020

[@Marchant2]

I don’t know who you are, but you’re no expert either.

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

Why? because he didn't fix it himself? People ignore the experts because what they recommend costs money. That's why people are freezing to death in dark homes in Texas now.

[@billnorris8457]

@@Marchant2 That was a really silly thing to type. PR is a disaster. Nor do you have any idea of what I do know. GW hysteria is a very strange affliction. A branch of Juan WIlliamsism? Very likely!

[@billnorris8457]

@@LOLHAMMER45678 I guess we should still believe all the experts at ERCOT then! YOu definitely have Juan WIlliams zombieism.

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

@@billnorris8457 No, I'm in favor of actually implementing recommendations when they're made. ERCOT recommended the generator operators winterize their equipment in 2011. They didn't want to spend the money, so they didn't- and now dozens of people will freeze to death in their dark homes. Oops.

[@Nicathatsme]

Another great reason for Texas to go blue. They had 10 years to make repairs & maintenance that could have prevented a lot of suffering

[@thedude4594]

This has nothing to do with your ignorant politics. It has to do with money and not being prepared. Leave our state. We don’t want you.

[@lafeil]

Reasons why happen again, because of companies. They are private and if government takes them over it would be a mess. Companies knew about this issue did nothing. It their job to winterize their equipment.

[@user-eo7le3qr2s]

Agree!!!!!! BLUE WAVE!!!!!! Everyone is just passing the buck!!! On all the problem we’re facing!!!!! Governor Abbot is calling for an investigation on him self!!!!! Hahaha They don’t Evan know what they don’t know!!! I wonder if the power company’s are going to pay for all the deaths and water damage.

[@Nicathatsme]

@@thedude4594 The governor & his appointed utility commissioners made the choice to not maintain our grid. Stop being a troll & making personal attacks because I have a valid criticism on their job performance

[@Crew4Life]

Keep your nasty blue out of our State. Anything is better than blue lunatics!

[@julieta8648]

he was very very soft and just throw in some wind power propaganda nonsense.. just keep the status q and fu¨¨e over the people and let us forgive and forget. noting to see here..

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

He's an expert and you're not.

[@julieta8648]

@@LOLHAMMER45678 Dr. Gerald Turner is an internationally certified consultant to executive management, author, international speaker, and business & executive coach. As a consultant at GPC, he assists developing nations with planning and execution of industrial and economic development initiatives. In partnership with executive leadership teams, he assists businesses with formulation and execution of high-impact, value-driven business strategies to successfully navigate the dynamic transformations within the emerging 4th Industrial Revolution. The power grid expert. haha

[@LOLHAMMER45678]

@@julieta8648 Why didn't you quote the line right after that? "For 25 years he has also served on several executive advisory councils and committees to develop analytic models for emergency preparedness, disaster response & recovery and business continuity for natural disasters and infectious diseases including SARS, MERS. H1N1, Zika, Ebola and now COVID-19." Oops! Turns out he really is an expert. Your IQ is terrifyingly low.

[@Twilightsummerbreeze]

Restart all the plants Obama and Biden shut down.