Story at a glance
- Millions of Texans remain without electricity or heat.
- The state is seeing unusually cold temperatures.
As Winter Storm Uri holds Texas in a deep freeze, the state’s energy infrastructure has left millions without heat, fostering dangerously cold conditions and, now, a spike in energy prices.
CNN Business reports that electricity prices have jumped by more than 10,000 percent since major snowfall has caused widespread power outages.
State officials have noted that a lack of winterization of the Texas power plants is at least partly at fault for the mass blackouts, despite the state being renowned for its oil reserves.
Historical records say that the lowest temperatures ever witnessed in Texas was -23 degrees Fahrenheit in February of 1899 and again in February of 1933. Later in 1956, February again recorded the greatest amount of monthly snowfall for the Lone Star State, with 36 inches.
Earlier this week, temperatures fell to about 13 degrees Fahrenheit in places like Houston. Temperatures have since rebounded to around 37 degrees, with people still surviving the cold without power.
READ MORE ABOUT THE TEXAS ENERGY CRISIS
‘I GOT NO DEFENSE’ TED CRUZ ADMITS IN CONTROVERSY OVER ENERGY POLICIES IN CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS
AOC AND TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT FIRE AT EACH OTHER OVER DEADLY WINTER STORM, GREEN NEW DEAL
BILL GATES SLAMS TEXAS GOVERNOR’S EXPLANATION FOR CATASTROPHIC POWER OUTAGES
EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS NOW TAKING PLACE IN TEXAS HOSPITALS BECAUSE OF FREEZING TEMPERATURES
FIRST POWER, NOW WATER: TEXANS TOLD TO BOIL, CONSERVE WATER AS STATE WARNS OF SHORTAGES
Published on Feb 17,2021