February 2021 exposed a truth the Texas electricity industry doesn’t like to discuss: when the grid fails, you’re on your own.
Winter Storm Uri killed hundreds of people. Millions lost power for days in freezing temperatures. And the cause wasn’t some freak act of nature—it was decades of choices to prioritize cheap electricity over reliable electricity. Power plants that weren’t winterized. A grid deliberately isolated from federal backup. Market structures that rewarded cutting corners.
Five years later, the grid is better. But “better” isn’t “fixed.” The same fundamental vulnerabilities exist. If another Uri-level storm hits, some homes will lose power. The difference between your family staying safe and becoming a statistic comes down to preparation that no one in the electricity industry is going to do for you.
What Actually Failed in 2021
Let’s be clear about what happened—because the spin from various parties has muddied the truth.
It Wasn’t Just the Weather
Uri wasn’t just cold. It was cold everywhere in Texas at the same time, for an extended period. That’s unusual. Normally, cold fronts move through, hitting different parts of the state at different times. Uri parked over the entire state for days.
But here’s what you should understand: cold snaps happen. They’re not unpredictable. The failure was choosing not to prepare for them.
Temperatures dropped into the single digits across regions that rarely see freezing. Electric heaters ran nonstop. Demand for electricity hit all-time records—at the exact moment the grid was least able to deliver.
Why the Grid Failed
The failure wasn’t one thing. It was everything at once:
Generation collapsed. Natural gas wells and pipelines froze. Wind turbines iced up. Coal piles became solid blocks. Even the nuclear plants had cold-related problems. Texas lost roughly half its generation capacity during the worst hours.
Demand spiked. Everyone cranked up their heat. Electric resistance heaters—common in Texas because we usually need more cooling than heating—draw enormous amounts of power.
Isolation hurt. Texas can’t easily import power from neighboring states. The limited connections that exist couldn’t move nearly enough electricity to matter.
Nobody was ready. Power plants weren’t winterized because extreme cold was rare. The economics didn’t justify the expense. Until it did.
The Human Cost
More than 240 people died—some from hypothermia in their own homes, others from carbon monoxide poisoning as they tried to stay warm with unsafe methods. Property damage exceeded $200 billion. Some areas were without power for four days or more.
These aren’t just statistics. Families lost loved ones. Pipes burst in millions of homes. People made desperate choices to keep their children warm.
That’s why preparation matters. The grid may or may not fail next time. But your family’s safety shouldn’t depend on that gamble.
How the Texas Grid Has Changed Since 2021
Let’s be clear about what’s different now—and what isn’t.
Real Improvements
Mandatory winterization. Power plants must now prepare for cold weather. ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission conduct inspections and can penalize facilities that don’t meet standards. This is a significant change from the voluntary approach before Uri.
Better coordination with gas. The interdependence of gas and electricity was a major failure point. New rules require better communication between the two industries and ensure gas facilities critical to power generation get priority if there are shortages.
New reliability programs. ERCOT can now pay generators to be available during extreme conditions, not just for electricity produced. This creates incentive to keep backup capacity ready.
Texas Energy Fund. The state created a $5 billion fund to support building new dispatchable generation—plants that can run on demand regardless of weather conditions.
Improved forecasting. Weather prediction and demand modeling have both improved. ERCOT can see problems coming earlier and respond sooner.
What Hasn’t Changed
Texas is still isolated. The grid remains largely disconnected from the rest of the country. We still can’t import significant power during a crisis.
Market structure is similar. Texas still relies on price signals rather than capacity payments to encourage new generation. This works most of the time but creates less buffer during emergencies.
Extreme weather is still extreme. No amount of preparation guarantees a working grid when temperatures drop to zero and stay there for days. Even states with more robust grids have outages during historic storms.
The Bottom Line on Grid Reliability
The Texas grid handled cold snaps in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 without major failures. That’s a good sign. But none of those events matched Uri’s combination of intensity, duration, and geographic scope.
Think of the improvements as making a repeat of Uri less likely and less severe if it happens. Don’t think of them as making it impossible. Plan accordingly.
Before the Storm: Your Electricity Preparation Checklist
The time to prepare is before the forecast turns scary. Here’s what to do now, while the weather is normal.
Know Your Provider’s Contact Information
When power goes out during a storm, phone systems get overwhelmed. Find this information now and save it somewhere you can access without internet:
- Your retail provider’s customer service number (for billing questions, account issues)
- Your TDU’s outage reporting line (for actual outage reports and restoration estimates)
Your retail provider—TXU, Reliant, or whoever you’re signed up with—handles your billing. But your TDU (Transmission and Distribution Utility) handles the physical wires and outage response. In most of Texas, that’s Oncor, CenterPoint, AEP Texas, or TNMP.
Here are the main outage lines:
- Oncor: 888-313-4747
- CenterPoint: 800-332-7143
- AEP Texas: 866-223-8508
- TNMP: 888-866-7456
Write these down. Put them in your wallet. Your phone may be dead when you need them.
Check Your Plan Type Before It Matters
During Uri, customers on variable-rate plans experienced massive bill spikes. Learn about ERCOT and how the Texas grid works to understand why this happened. Some indexed plans passed wholesale prices directly to customers—prices that hit $9,000 per megawatt-hour during the crisis.
If you’re on a variable or indexed plan: Understand the risk. Your rate can spike during extreme weather events. Consider switching to a fixed-rate plan before winter if price predictability matters to you.
If you’re on a fixed-rate plan: You’re protected from rate spikes during the contract term. Your bill will reflect your usage (which may be high), but the rate won’t change.
Check your current plan type by reviewing your most recent bill or logging into your provider’s website. If you’re not sure, call and ask.
Charge Everything
When a storm approaches:
- Phones and tablets to 100%
- Laptops (they can charge phones later)
- Portable battery packs fully charged
- Rechargeable flashlights
- Any medical devices with batteries
Do this before the storm hits, not after power goes out.
Stock Emergency Supplies
You’ve heard this before, but actually do it:
- Water: One gallon per person per day, minimum three days
- Flashlights and extra batteries (not just phone flashlights—they drain battery)
- Blankets and warm clothes that work without heat
- Non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking
- Manual can opener
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Cash (card readers don’t work without power)
- Full tank of gas in your vehicle (stations can’t pump without electricity)
Prepare Your Home
- Know where your water shutoff is. If pipes freeze, you’ll need to shut off water fast to limit flooding damage.
- Insulate exposed pipes with foam insulation or even towels as a temporary measure.
- Have pipe-draining supplies ready. If the forecast is severe and you’re leaving, draining pipes prevents bursts.
- Check weatherstripping on doors and windows. Heat escapes through gaps.
- Know your breaker box. If you need to turn off specific circuits or the whole house, know how.
During the Storm: Managing Without Power
If the grid fails, here’s how to handle it safely.
Conserving Heat
Every degree matters when you’re not sure when power will return.
- Close off unused rooms. Seal doors with towels, blankets, or draft stoppers. Concentrate people and warmth in one area.
- Use curtains strategically. Open curtains on south-facing windows during daylight to capture solar heat. Close all curtains at night.
- Layer clothing before considering unsafe heat sources. Sweaters, blankets, and sleeping bags are safer than improvised heating.
- If you have a fireplace, use it carefully. Make sure the flue is open and you have adequate ventilation.
Space Heater Safety
If you have a working electric space heater (and some power), use it correctly:
- Keep three feet of clearance from anything flammable—furniture, curtains, bedding.
- Never leave it unattended or running while you sleep.
- Plug directly into wall outlets, not extension cords or power strips. Space heaters draw significant current.
- Don’t use it in bathrooms or wet areas.
- Turn it off when leaving the room.
Many house fires during winter storms involve space heaters. Don’t become a statistic.
What NOT to Do
Never use a gas oven or stove for heat. This produces carbon monoxide and creates a serious risk of death. Gas appliances are designed for cooking with ventilation, not continuous operation as heaters.
Never run a generator indoors or in a garage. Generators produce deadly carbon monoxide. They must be outside, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. More on generator safety below.
Never use a charcoal or propane grill indoors. Same carbon monoxide problem.
Don’t open the refrigerator repeatedly. Food stays cold longer when you keep the door closed. A full freezer holds temperature for about 48 hours; a half-full freezer about 24 hours.
Generator Safety: What You Need to Know
Portable generators saved some families during Uri. They also killed others. Here’s how to use them safely.
Placement Is Everything
Generators produce carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless gas that kills. During Uri, carbon monoxide poisonings spiked across Texas as desperate families ran generators in garages, basements, or even living rooms.
The only safe location is outside:
- At least 20 feet from your home
- Away from windows, doors, and vents
- In a location where exhaust blows away from the house
Never run a generator in an enclosed space. Not even with the garage door open. Not even “just for a few minutes.” Carbon monoxide accumulates fast.
Fuel Storage
- Use fresh gasoline. Old gas can damage the generator.
- Store fuel in approved containers away from living areas.
- Never refuel while the generator is running. Hot engines can ignite gas fumes.
- Let it cool down before adding fuel.
Electrical Safety
- Don’t plug the generator directly into your home’s wiring unless you have a proper transfer switch installed by an electrician. Backfeeding power into the grid can electrocute utility workers trying to restore power.
- Use heavy-duty extension cords rated for outdoor use and the wattage you need.
- Keep cords dry and away from standing water.
Generator Sizing
A typical portable generator (3,000-7,500 watts) can run essentials: refrigerator, some lights, phone chargers, maybe a space heater. It won’t run your whole house.
Prioritize:
- Refrigerator (keeps food safe)
- Medical equipment (if applicable)
- Basic lighting
- Phone charging
- One heating source if possible
Don’t overload the generator. Running too many appliances can damage both the generator and your devices.
Variable vs Fixed Rates During Extreme Weather
Here’s the cold truth about electricity pricing during winter storms: if you’re on a variable-rate plan, you’re exposed.
How Prices Spike
During extreme weather, wholesale electricity prices can surge. ERCOT’s market allows prices up to $5,000 per megawatt-hour during scarcity conditions (down from $9,000 during Uri, after reforms). When demand exceeds supply, prices spike to incentivize conservation and encourage generators to produce more.
If you’re on a fixed-rate plan: Your retail provider absorbed the hedge risk. You’ll see higher usage on your bill (you used more electricity for heating), but the rate per kWh stays the same.
If you’re on a variable-rate plan: Your rate may increase significantly, depending on how your plan is structured. Some variable plans have caps; others follow wholesale prices more closely.
If you’re on an indexed plan: You’ll likely see the spike directly. This is the model that led to those $5,000+ bills during Uri.
What to Do Now
If you’re concerned about bill spikes during extreme weather:
- Check your current plan. Is it fixed, variable, or indexed?
- If variable, review the terms. Does it have a price cap? What’s your exposure?
- Consider switching before winter. Fixed-rate plans eliminate price spike risk. The premium you pay is essentially insurance.
Head to ComparePower to see current fixed-rate options in your area.
After the Storm: What to Watch For
When power returns, the crisis isn’t completely over.
Check Your Home
- Inspect pipes for cracks or leaks before turning water back on at full pressure.
- Look for water damage from frozen pipes that may have burst.
- Check food safety. If your refrigerator was off for more than four hours, or your freezer was off for more than 24-48 hours, some food may be unsafe.
Review Your Bill
After an extreme weather event, review your electricity bill carefully.
- Check for accuracy. Did the meter read correctly?
- Understand the charges. High usage is normal during a cold snap—you were heating more.
- If you’re on a variable plan, compare the rate to previous months.
- If something seems wrong, call your provider.
Some providers offered payment plans or bill relief after Uri. If you’re struggling with a high bill, ask about options.
Plan for Next Time
What worked? What didn’t? Every storm teaches something.
Maybe you learned you need a generator. Maybe you learned your current generator is too small. Maybe you discovered that your flashlight batteries were dead or your emergency food had expired.
Update your supplies and plans while the lessons are fresh.
The Bottom Line
Winter storms in Texas are serious. The grid is more resilient than it was in 2021, but no system is failure-proof during extreme conditions. Your preparation determines whether a power outage is an inconvenience or a danger.
The essentials:
- Know your provider and TDU contact information
- Understand your plan type and rate exposure
- Stock supplies before storms hit
- Use generators and space heaters safely
- Never use gas appliances or charcoal for indoor heating
You can’t control when the next storm comes or whether the grid holds. You can control how ready your family is.
Ready to review your electricity plan before winter? Compare fixed-rate options from providers in your area, or check out our provider comparisons to see which companies offer the best protection for unpredictable Texas weather.