IRVING, TX – Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) today joined Rep. Michael C. Burgess (TX-26) and a number of their Texas Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) seeking answers on the widespread power outage impacting millions of Texans and urging ERCOT to do everything in their authority to restore power immediately.

“While it appears the significant mismatch in energy supply and demand during this cold snap was caused by a variety of factors, various narratives have begun to surface that must be addressed,” they wrote. “Texas residents deserve to know the root causes of their power outages and how they can be prevented in the future.”

In the letter, Van Duyne and her colleagues expressed their commitment to ensuring ERCOT has the resources it needs to restore power as quickly as possible, urging ERCOT to reach out if they require additional assistance from the Federal government.

The letter concludes by requesting written answers to the following questions immediately upon conclusion of the emergency:

1. How did ERCOT prepare for this weather event and anticipated energy demand prior to when the controlled blackouts began?
2. It has been reported that ERCOT will adjust rates to meet demand. How will this impact future energy prices in Texas?
3. How were the various types of energy generation impacted by the extreme cold weather?
4. What is the likelihood of similar weather events impacting Texas’s electric grid again?
5. What measures can be taken to improve grid resiliency in Texas in the future?

To read the full letter, click here.

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