The Texas Public Utility Commission has approved weatherization standards for power plants and transmission lines. PUC met Thursday to discuss options to prevent a repeat of February's rolling blackouts in case of more extreme weather.
"This is phase one of our rule-making," says PUC Chairman Peter Lake. "This is an operational standard to be ready for this winter."
Power plants will be required to file "winter weather readiness" reports with PUC and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. They will also have to establish cold weather protocols and train employees.
Plants will also need to inspect and install additional insulation, test equipment and protect sensors for equipment that may be at risk in cold weather.
ERCOT will also inspect power plants this winter.
"I think it is a landmark rule on weatherization," says PUC Commissioner Lori Cobos. "Never before have we had such robust weatherization standards in place with enforcement authority."
"We've got to make sure this is place for this winter," Lake says. "This rule-making will be a big step to ensuring the physical resiliency of our grid is vastly improved this winter over last winter."
Power plants will be required to make changes by December 1, but they can seek exemptions if they will not be able to meet the deadline.
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