Quote:
Originally Posted by L.Fite
There is one grid, but many providers...
If you speak of ERCOT, they don't provide squat...
ERCOT is supposed to be the watch dog to the providers...
I guess they broke off their chain!
ERCOT came from the deregulation of energy in Texas...
Before dereg. there was still more than one provider geographically...
Houston Light and Power, and Gulf State Utilities here in the southeast part of Texas, all providers at the time were considered monopolies and had to answer to the PUC...
At that time providers were required by law to have excess capacity to prevent things like what just occurred.
Come dereg. and the landscape changed...
Now they are split into generation, sales, and distribution.
Basically adding middle men to sell electricity and of course ERCOT to manage the grid.
With that came the spot market for generation...
No longer was the a requirement for the distributor of power to maintain excess generation, (not economical to the generators)...
Then we decide we need to be green...
So...20 or 25% (not certain the exact number) of non reliable "green energy", no excess capacity, Throw in some off peak maintenance, and an Artic air blast, stir, and boom you're now at 70-80% capacity and 120% demand.
Result... Disaster...
Did anyone see it coming?...
Yes...Probably, I know I did, but I'm a nobody...
So where was ERCOT in all of this?...
The president of ERCOT lives in Michigan I hear...
The Vice president in lives in Germany?... an economics professor is what I heard.
Oh and they weren't doing on site inspections... Because...you know...covid.
What could go wrong?
Just my observations...
|
Very good description of the issue only there is one more thing to add.
The electric generators also must schedule gas to be delivered to the gas fired generator locations.
Most only schedule for their needs or projections and do not purchase any extra from the gas transporters. They can purchase contingent/reserved gas which costs extra in case of unknowns of things like just happened however, most do not due to the cost.
The local electric company actually admitted they were short 30% of their gas needs when the peak generation was need. They had gas generators just not the fuel to run them.
The local electric company in years past idled a coal fired operation I am told for many reasons.
What happened in Texas was a perfect storm all coming together at once of many issues which ended badly.
I have watched one of the big windmills get out of balance due to ice buildup on the blades and it is not pretty. As the ice comes off the blades as they are turning is also something to see from a distance a long distance. It can throw ice a long way.
Just My Take
Rick Cates
Canyon, TX