ERCOT

Five years after the Texas blackout, the power grid is now better equipped to handle winter storms, but what has not been fixed is also becoming clearer.

Scattered outages have been reported as of Monday, but there are no signs of the widespread generation failures that crippled the grid nearly five years ago.

Abbott issued disaster declarations Thursday for more than 130 counties ahead of a winter freeze expected to sweep into Texas over the coming days. “The goal is to make it through with no life lost,” the governor said.

Subfreezing temperatures are expected by Friday as arctic air moves into Texas, with some areas possibly staying below freezing through Monday before warming into the lower 40s on Tuesday.

Individuals and businesses who sued Texas utility companies for cutting power during the deadly 2021 winter storm didn't adequately prove the companies' negligence, the court ruled Friday, but one of their claims can still move forward.

Temperatures across the state should rise into the 70s by next week.

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued a cold weather advisory through 10 a.m. Monday morning as temperatures plunged. Oncor is reporting more than 5,000 North Texans are without power.

In part, the answer depends on the weather.

A home builder and an electricity retailer are partnering to install backup power batteries in new homes as Texans brace for potential outages this winter.

ERCOT says conditions this winter could spark extreme cold, but additional power supply and continued weatherization efforts will lower the risk of power outages.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas adopted the rule amid surging demand for power across the state and a growing crypto mining industry in Texas.

Energy experts say Texas' grid is more reliable than it was three years ago — when a massive winter storm knocked out power to millions. But there are still challenges.