Texas Disaster

[JKEerie]

Has anyone heard from Ghostlady? With all the problems in Texas with the power grid, water supplies, food and gasoline shortages, I'm hoping she's okay. From what I understand, the only area that has been spared is El Paso as they are part of the Western power grid and not the stand alone Texas grid. The devastation this country has undergone this past year is so sad. So much could have been prevented. Sad. Many prayers for our neighbors in Texas.

[Ghostlady]

I am doing ok. I’ve been very lucky and was spared losing power, especially with the freezing weather. I had lost internet and phone and had very low water pressure. Almost everyone I work with has lost power, water pipes breaking from the freezing temperatures and no water for three days. It was so cold for some they couldn’t stand it and drove on icy roads to find someone with heat. The power is slowly coming back on but now the cleanup.

[JKEerie]

Glad to hear, GL! Let's hope the folks in your state make the necessary changes to the system so it doesn't happen again.

[draclvr]

I watched in amazement as I saw so much suffering in cold that is just NOT normal for Texas. It's one thing for those of us who are used to dangerously cold weather, but quite another for people who have no experience with it. I hope Texas government figures out how to make sure this never happens again. The absolute worst thing I read was a letter from a Texas mayor - don't remember the city - screaming at people to suck it up and figure out how to take care of themselves - the government owes them nothing including power and water! He didn't mention that people PAY for these things! I think he resigned.

[JKEerie]

As well he should, Drac. That was the mayor of Colorado City. Guess the politicians there think they get elected just to provide them with a good paying job rather than serving the people. Unbelievable.

[Ghostlady]

Texas is doing better with power coming up. The problem now is all the busted water pipes and not enough plumbers.

[JKEerie]

I also saw on the news that a woman who apparently had "adjustable" billing from her electric provider and who normally pays $40 per month just got a bill for $9000! What?????

[Ghostlady]

Whoa! That tells me there is more of a mess coming.

[draclvr]

I saw that power that was $40 per kwh was going up to something like $10,000 per kwh.

[Ghostlady]

I saw that power that was $40 per kwh was going up to something like $10,000 per kwh.

Is that for adjustable billing also?

[Jen]

Adjustable billing? What the!? Here we pay for what we use, and the utility can’t randomly jack up rates by an order of magnitude.

[Ghostlady]

I pay for what I use. I've never heard of Adjustable billing. I am glad I don't have it since it is going to be a big issue.

[draclvr]

From what I understood, that huge increase was going to be for a grid to sell their electricity to another grid. It's going to be a huge issue because Texas only uses Texas grids and isn't connected to any of the huge western and eastern grids.