Will this cold spell knock out power in North Texas? Here’s what ERCOT has to say.

A spell of freezing weather will descend on North Texas by the end of the week, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) says it will have enough electricity for the winter.

The strong cold front arriving Thursday will send temperatures plunging to single digits. Wind chills below zero behind 30 to 40 mph winds and gusts of up to 45 mph are possible. The freezing weather could last until Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Fears of a repeat of the power grid failures of 2021 has the state’s primary manager of its power grid on high alert. In the wake of last winter’s chaos, ERCOT says it has instituted protocols for weatherization and inspections of electric generators and transmission facilities. Operators have been told to adhere to maintenance schedules and ERCOT promises to better communicate with the public.

In May 2021, the Texas legislature moved to shore up the state’s ability to deliver power to millions of its residents. A house plan was advanced that called for nearly $2 billion to help pay for weatherization of facilities. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bills into law.

“Providing Texans with a reliable electric grid is our highest priority. As we monitor weather conditions, we want to assure Texans that the grid is resilient and reliable,” said Pablo Vegas, ERCOT President and CEO. “We will keep the public informed as weather conditions change throughout the coming week.”