▲ 728 ▼ Texas power prices soar 20,000% as brutal heat wave sets off emergency (markets.businessinsider.com) submitted 2 years ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world 158 comments fedilink hide all child comments Texas power prices soared 20,000% Wednesday evening amid another brutal heat wave. Spot electricity prices topped $5,000 per megawatt-hour, up more than 200 times from Wednesday morning. The state's grid operator issued its second-highest energy emergency, then later said conditions returned to normal.
[+] tallwookie@lemm.ee 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (4 children) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 8 child comments replies: [–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 32 points 2 years ago (1 child) Texas has plenty of power. Their problem is the delivery network. Their prices surge because power can't be delivered to everybody, not because there isn't enough for everybody. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] protist@mander.xyz 1 point 2 years ago (1 child) I need you to explain this further? The price goes up because the demand on the grid goes up, and as the price goes up, typically additional generation comes online to take advantage of higher rates. I'm not saying it's a good system by any means, but I don't understand what you mean saying "power can't be delivered to everybody" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Botzo@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 child) Transmission lines have maximums and the Texas power grid is a shambles. Here's a recent article that explains a little more: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-09-08/ercot-texas-electric-grid-congestion-at-risk-energy-emergency permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] protist@mander.xyz -10 points 2 years ago (1 child) I'm abreast of this specific grid situation, and there're absolutely improvements that need to be made, and also no, it's not "a shambles." Yes, there was a bottleneck this time, but also everyone's power stayed on just fine permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent [–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago (2 children) But Texas also has plenty of space and sunlight for other renewables. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] SoylentBlake@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago (1 child) They lead the nation, iirc. Not just in the space for it, but for the actual amount that's been implemented. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] Kalkaline@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent [–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) apperently not on peoples roofs though. Especually for ACs having your own solar panels is perfect. The demand and supply are always highest at the same time. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago* The problem hasn't been during the day. The supply and demand has a lag (sun comes out and its still cool and sun goes down and its still hot). The hottest part of the day has been about 6pm and then solar power starts declining before power use. That's been when the shortages have been. permalink fedilink source parent [–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago You ever been east of the mountains? It's going to be over 90 where my parents are today. It was over 100 for quite a bit this summer. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago If you had the same amount of heat, you'd have more sunlight hours and thus better conditions for solar power. If you had more wind, wind power etc. There's no scenario anywhere in the world where the entire energy consumption and more can't be supplied via renewable sources. All that's missing is the political will to go against the fossil fuel industry. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 32 points 2 years ago (1 child) Texas has plenty of power. Their problem is the delivery network. Their prices surge because power can't be delivered to everybody, not because there isn't enough for everybody. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] protist@mander.xyz 1 point 2 years ago (1 child) I need you to explain this further? The price goes up because the demand on the grid goes up, and as the price goes up, typically additional generation comes online to take advantage of higher rates. I'm not saying it's a good system by any means, but I don't understand what you mean saying "power can't be delivered to everybody" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Botzo@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 child) Transmission lines have maximums and the Texas power grid is a shambles. Here's a recent article that explains a little more: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-09-08/ercot-texas-electric-grid-congestion-at-risk-energy-emergency permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] protist@mander.xyz -10 points 2 years ago (1 child) I'm abreast of this specific grid situation, and there're absolutely improvements that need to be made, and also no, it's not "a shambles." Yes, there was a bottleneck this time, but also everyone's power stayed on just fine permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent
[–] protist@mander.xyz 1 point 2 years ago (1 child) I need you to explain this further? The price goes up because the demand on the grid goes up, and as the price goes up, typically additional generation comes online to take advantage of higher rates. I'm not saying it's a good system by any means, but I don't understand what you mean saying "power can't be delivered to everybody" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Botzo@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 child) Transmission lines have maximums and the Texas power grid is a shambles. Here's a recent article that explains a little more: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-09-08/ercot-texas-electric-grid-congestion-at-risk-energy-emergency permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] protist@mander.xyz -10 points 2 years ago (1 child) I'm abreast of this specific grid situation, and there're absolutely improvements that need to be made, and also no, it's not "a shambles." Yes, there was a bottleneck this time, but also everyone's power stayed on just fine permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Botzo@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 child) Transmission lines have maximums and the Texas power grid is a shambles. Here's a recent article that explains a little more: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-09-08/ercot-texas-electric-grid-congestion-at-risk-energy-emergency permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] protist@mander.xyz -10 points 2 years ago (1 child) I'm abreast of this specific grid situation, and there're absolutely improvements that need to be made, and also no, it's not "a shambles." Yes, there was a bottleneck this time, but also everyone's power stayed on just fine permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent
[+] protist@mander.xyz -10 points 2 years ago (1 child) I'm abreast of this specific grid situation, and there're absolutely improvements that need to be made, and also no, it's not "a shambles." Yes, there was a bottleneck this time, but also everyone's power stayed on just fine permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent
[–] prole@sh.itjust.works 13 points 2 years ago Oh cool, so nobody died this time. Give it a few months when they start dying of exposure. At least once a year I see stories about Texas' power grid shitting the bed and people dying as a result. How's all that freedom going? permalink fedilink source parent
[–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 8 points 2 years ago (2 children) But Texas also has plenty of space and sunlight for other renewables. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] SoylentBlake@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago (1 child) They lead the nation, iirc. Not just in the space for it, but for the actual amount that's been implemented. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] Kalkaline@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent [–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) apperently not on peoples roofs though. Especually for ACs having your own solar panels is perfect. The demand and supply are always highest at the same time. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago* The problem hasn't been during the day. The supply and demand has a lag (sun comes out and its still cool and sun goes down and its still hot). The hottest part of the day has been about 6pm and then solar power starts declining before power use. That's been when the shortages have been. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] SoylentBlake@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago (1 child) They lead the nation, iirc. Not just in the space for it, but for the actual amount that's been implemented. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] Kalkaline@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent
[+] Kalkaline@programming.dev 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent
[–] tryptaminev@feddit.de 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) apperently not on peoples roofs though. Especually for ACs having your own solar panels is perfect. The demand and supply are always highest at the same time. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago* The problem hasn't been during the day. The supply and demand has a lag (sun comes out and its still cool and sun goes down and its still hot). The hottest part of the day has been about 6pm and then solar power starts declining before power use. That's been when the shortages have been. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social 2 points 2 years ago* The problem hasn't been during the day. The supply and demand has a lag (sun comes out and its still cool and sun goes down and its still hot). The hottest part of the day has been about 6pm and then solar power starts declining before power use. That's been when the shortages have been. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] SeaJ@lemm.ee 2 points 2 years ago You ever been east of the mountains? It's going to be over 90 where my parents are today. It was over 100 for quite a bit this summer. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago If you had the same amount of heat, you'd have more sunlight hours and thus better conditions for solar power. If you had more wind, wind power etc. There's no scenario anywhere in the world where the entire energy consumption and more can't be supplied via renewable sources. All that's missing is the political will to go against the fossil fuel industry. permalink fedilink source parent