Imagine being a Texan trying to brag about having your own power grid, after dozens of people froze to death because of how shitty that power grid is.

[–] PunnyName@lemmy.world 76 points 9 months ago

Or died due to heat stroke / exhaustion because of that same shitty power grid.

[–] onion@feddit.de 30 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Why are you guys not connected to the rest of the US in the first place?

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 78 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Because they ~~are so strong and independent~~ would rather funnel money into their own pockets than follow regulation to make sure people don't freeze to death in winter.

[–] Duranie@literature.cafe 49 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Not a Texan, but as I understand if a state connects to other states then there are federal regulations that need to be followed.

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 64 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

This is exactly it. Because ERCOT is fully contained within the state of Texas they don't have to follow any of the federal rules that would cover interstate connections in the Federal Power Act. The state can fully manage it without outside influence, and they've chosen to fully deregulate the entire market. Because fuck you it makes money.

[–] Cqrd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Yep, a friend of mine there says he calls up different suppliers every year to shop for that year's current best price because they all regularly jack it up.

[–] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Tell him to look at EnergyOgre.

[–] TunaLobster@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Texas Power Guide is another option I've used. Power to choose is to be avoided.

[–] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

Everyone games Power To Choose. I’ll keep TPG in mind in the future. Thanks!

[–] TunaLobster@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

It's a normal thing in Texas. Annual plan are typical. Longer and shorter term ones are available. Never pay month to month. It's just like Internet plans.

Texas Power Guide does a nice job of analyzing a lot of plans based on your location and usage.

Do NOT use Power To Choose. The electricity retailers purchase positions on that site. There is usually bias in the plans its shows.

[–] ours@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago

Ah, freedom*!

for some corporations to abuse the average Joe

[–] scoobford@lemmy.zip 23 points 9 months ago

Because we didn't want to follow federal regulations due to cost. Some of said regulations included winterizing measures. It was peak "leopards ate my face" material.

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 25 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I don't brag about it. I fear each winter that it will happen again. Or that we will be woefully under prepared for natural disasters when they do strike.

[–] MrVilliam@lemmy.world 38 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There is no safe season in Texas. It gets tornadoes in Spring and hurricanes in Fall. And because every year is getting hotter and hotter, Summer in Texas is probably also gonna get pretty rough soon. And every time ERCOT struggles, the price of energy soars because of their bullshit predatory small print. I truly don't understand why anybody would choose to move to Texas these days.

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Summer will get rough soon? Didn't we have two back to back years with heat dome dominated summers and people collapsing on the concrete? I distinctly remember being told by my job not to go outside due to extreme risk of heatstroke. It's already bad. If ercot can't handle winter now, they won't be able to handle summer as AC system loads spike higher and higher.

I have lived here for 31 years. I don't get the pride I'm supposed to have for being a native Texan. If I weren't trapped here by the economic forces pressing all Texans down, I would live somewhere with a functional government at least.

[–] erev@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Come to Chicago. Rent is fucked I won't lie, but you can still find some cheap places. Depending on what you do (or are willing to do) there's plenty of work here. Our city is a far cry from perfect but we have a mayor who actually has the people's best interests in mind, we're politically active and quite progressive, there aren't enough free community resources but far more than most places, we have multiple forms of slightly shitty but fully functional mass transit, and weed is legal. Also, portions of the city are extremely walkable and bikeable.

[–] jaxxed@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

You need a snappy title, and an opening theme song ... 'cause you've got a 70s sitcom on yer hands.

[–] Sarcasmo220@lemmy.ml 2 points 9 months ago

I friend of mine is moving from New Mexico to Chicago, so it checks out.

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Or that we will be woefully under prepared for natural disasters when they do strike.

Texas is always prepared to receive ~~handouts~~, I mean ~~welfare~~ I mean, their legitimate entitlements from the federal government.

[–] NegativeInf@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Right. What happens to Texas if it secedes and is subsequently hit by a substantial hurricane? Fuck those people in particular I guess. That's the general stance of our state government.

[–] FabledAepitaph@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Hilariously, Texas is all about giving people the freedom to freeze to death with their substandard electrical service in the name of "freedom from government oppression", but they can't just let trans people decide to transition because it could be a mistake and they might regret it? All while supporting child labor where kids could get crushed or heinously injured in massive industrial equipments? Amazing.

[–] brodrobe@lemmy.world 17 points 9 months ago

It is definitely not a Texan. The choice of words and points they're hitting is very Russian.