Texas Blackouts 1

[lengould]

Anybody have any detailed information? Just heard on CNN about rolling blackouts inititated by the grid manager covering 80% of state. 15 min intervals. Seems afully early in the year.

Pechez les vaches.

 

[lengould]

The "6 parallel AC lines for minimum interconnect" sounds about correct. Advantage of DC ties is they don't require synchronizing, can just leave ERCOT isolated in frequency whatever it wants. Makes it an obvious choice for a continantal super-grid.

Pechez les vaches.

 

[rmw]

I am told by a daughter that moved to Texas that Texas retained the right to secede from the union, as well as the right to divide into 5 states if it want to.

Maybe having an isolated grid is a preparation for secession.

Now, 10 senators from the region instead of two.......

Electricpete, I am trying to imagine the system operators bringing up (or dropping) the frequenct on the whole ERCOT system all at once to balance the phases for syncronyzation. That would seem to be a trick, starting with your plant.

rmw

 

[Electic]

Politics? CNN seems eager to report dificulties in Texas in general, and especially if it involves the deregulated power industry.

When California was having power difficulties a several years ago CNN was eager to report this was due (partially) by deregulation, while never reporting that deregulation was working in Texas.

One other little point: Texas reluctance to intertie prevented the state from sharing the great black out that afflicted much of the east coast a few years ago.

 

[wfowfo]

Quote:
"When California was having power difficulties a several years ago CNN was eager to report this was due (partially) by deregulation, while never reporting that deregulation was working in Texas. "

Completely off topic, but De-regulation in Texas is a joke. Re-regulation is a better name, and all it has done is drive prices up for the consumer. As in California, the only ones profitting from de-regulation are the marketers that promoted it in the first place.
None of the Municipals or Coops were forced in and all of them have cheaper rates than the IOUs.

As for the DC ties, one of the steps preceeding the blackouts were to take advantage of all the available DC ties. Another was to ramp up any hydro that was available. Unexpectedly high temperatures and the unexpected and almost simultaneous loss of 1200 Mw of generation prompted the stage 4 rolling blackouts.

And as usual, the State's politicians (with 20/20 hind-site)are already ramping up their righteous indignation as to ERCOT's failings. Try betting any one of them $1000 at 10 to 1 odds that it will be 100+ degrees next April 17 in Austin TX. and see how many takers you get.