Top executives of Texas electric grid resign after storm failure
Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the resignations, noting ERCOT has assured it had adequate power ahead of the storm.
By REUTERSAnna Thomasson walks her dog, Penny, across the White Rock Lake Spillway after winter weather caused electricity blackouts in Dallas, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2021. "She likes the cold, I hate the cold, so I sacrificed for her," Thomasson said.(photo credit: BRANDON WADE/REUTERS)
HOUSTON - Top directors of Texas's electric grid operator, who faced sharp criticism from a massive failure of the state power system last week that left millions without light, heat, and water, resigned on Tuesday.The board's chairman, vice chairman, two directors and a board nominee of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), all of whom live outside of Texas, resigned effective Wednesday, according to a notice to the state Public Utility Commission.The resignations were disclosed the same day ERCOT was hit with a proposed class action lawsuit in a Texas court by customers who claim they lost power and drinkable water because of its failure to ensure the grid could function properly despite the bad weather.There have been dozens of deaths linked to the severe cold and the state has launched investigations into what caused power generators, electrical transmission systems to shut. At the peak, more than 4.3 million people in the state were without power.Texas Governor Greg Abbott welcomed the resignations, noting ERCOT has assured it had adequate power ahead of the storm. The state's investigation will "uncover the full picture of what went wrong" and ensure the events are not repeated, he said in a statement.'FREE HAND'"To allow state leaders a free hand with future direction and to eliminate distractions, we are resigning," wrote Chairman Sally Talberg, Vice Chairman Peter Cramton and directors Terry Bulger and Raymond Hepper in a joint resignation."Our hearts go out to all Texans who had to go without electricity, heat and water during frigid temperatures and continue to face the tragic consequences of this emergency," they added.Craig Ivey, former president of Consolidated Edison Co of New York who was nominated to fill a board vacancy effective Feb. 16, withdrew before he could be seated, according to the notification. Ivey cited concerns over out-of-state directors in his letter.A spokesman for the Public Utility Commission of Texas declined immediate comment on the resignations or when the regulator would seek to appoint new members. The PUC appoints the 15-member ERCOT board.
