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mahatmakanejeeves

(60,926 posts)
Sun Dec 17, 2023, 10:02 AM Dec 2023

Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule

Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule

https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-12-15/texas-power-plants-have-no-responsibility-to-provide-electricity-in-emergencies-judges-rule

KUT 90.5 | By Mose Buchele
Published December 15, 2023 at 3:39 PM CST

http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fad%2F90%2Fbb5dbe274a4c937147a05e99c6a7%2F50960259133-39c26cd7a3-o.jpg

Ice on trees and power lines in south Austin during a winter storm on Feb. 18, 2021.
Gabriel C. Pérez / KUT

The decision now leaves the families of those who died during the 2021 blackout unsure where next to seek justice.

Almost three years since the deadly Texas blackout of 2021, a panel of judges from the First Court of Appeals in Houston has ruled that big power companies cannot be held liable for failure to provide electricity during the crisis. The reason is Texas’ deregulated energy market.

The decision seems likely to protect the companies from lawsuits filed against them after the blackout. It leaves the families of those who died unsure where next to seek justice.

In February of 2021, a massive cold front descended on Texas, bringing days of ice and snow. The weather increased energy demand and reduced supply by freezing up power generators and the state’s natural gas supply chain. This led to a blackout that left millions of Texans without energy for nearly a week.

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Texas power plants have no responsibility to provide electricity in emergencies, judges rule (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2023 OP
Why would any normal persom want to live in snowybirdie Dec 2023 #1
snork AllaN01Bear Dec 2023 #2
Nothing new there. Coddling "unregulated" big business in Texas takes priority over the safety needs of the electorate. Firestorm49 Dec 2023 #3
What I hear when I read that..... JohnnyRingo Dec 2023 #4
The Republican Way young_at_heart Dec 2023 #5
Can this ruling help out our USPS? Baitball Blogger Dec 2023 #6
I agree with the judges. Wonder Why Dec 2023 #7

Firestorm49

(4,195 posts)
3. Nothing new there. Coddling "unregulated" big business in Texas takes priority over the safety needs of the electorate.
Sun Dec 17, 2023, 10:39 AM
Dec 2023

If for no other reason, a utility entrusted to provide the necessities of daily life should be held accountable, but throw that all out the window because we’re talking about Republicans here, and as we all know very well, they don’t give a fuck………about anything other than money and power. Giving Texas utilities a “get out of jail card” is a travesty.

JohnnyRingo

(19,309 posts)
4. What I hear when I read that.....
Sun Dec 17, 2023, 11:03 AM
Dec 2023

....is that the electric plants are not a public utility.
That it's a private service that we're lucky to have and is for some reason not a monopoly. They should be forced to liquidate and restructure under government control.

Wonder Why

(4,589 posts)
7. I agree with the judges.
Sun Dec 17, 2023, 11:51 AM
Dec 2023

After all, who needs morality,ethics or common decency? The Supreme Court members have clearly demonstrated that they don't. Let greed go unabated. Squeeze the suckers until they squeal. It's the American way.

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