The former head of the Texas power grid testified that he was ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott to keep power prices at the maximum price cap during last winter's winter storm.
Bill Magness, president and chief executive officer of Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc., speaks during the 2019 CERAWeek by IHS Markit conference in Houston, Texas on March 14, 2019. Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The former head of the Texas power grid on Wednesday testified that he was ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott to keep power prices at the maximum price cap during last winter's winter storm, theBill Magness, the former CEO of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, said that former Public Utility Commission Chair DeAnn Walker told him that he was to do whatever necessary to prevent additional blackouts.
"She told me the governor had conveyed to her if we emerged from rotating outages it was imperative they not resume," Magness said Wednesday. "We needed to do what we needed to do to make it happen."Power prices were kept at the maximum of $9,000 per megawatt hour, more than 150 times normal prices, during last winter's storm, per the Chronicle.
Abbott's spokesman last year said the governor was not "involved in any way" in the decision to keep prices at the maximum price cap for days.Magness' decision is now part of a bankruptcy trial brought by the electric co-op Brazos Electric, which says that the decision to raise power prices was made recklessly, and that the $1.9 billion power bill it got from ERCOT pushed it out of business.
The decision was aimed at encouraging large power users like factories to stay offline, per the Chronicle.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Gov. Abbott releases statement in support of 19 indicted Austin police officersTexas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement Wednesday in defense of the 19 Austin Police Department officers who were indicted on felony charges by progressive Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.
Read more »
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pushes child welfare agency to classify gender-affirming care as abuseTexas' top Republican leaders are renewing a press to have state child welfare officials treat gender-affirming health care as child abuse. Texas Republicans LGBTQ transgender gender GregAbbott KenPaxton
Read more »
Texas Gov. Abbott: Agencies must investigate gender-affirming care for trans kids as ‘child abuse’AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to investigate reports of transgender kids receiving gender-affirming care as “child abuse,” but it’s...
Read more »
Abbott directs DFPS to investigate 'abusive' gender-transitioning procedures on Texas childrenAbbott's letter also states that Texas law imposes reporting requirements on licensed professionals with direct contact with children, including doctors, nurses, and teachers, and criminal penalties for failing to report abuse.
Read more »
‘Abbott Elementary’ Scene-Stealer Janelle James on Playing Comedic Villain Ava: ‘She Don’t Need to Change’SPOILER ALERT: Do not read if you have not seen “Step Class,” Episode 9 of “Abbott Elementary.” Janelle James punctuates everything she says with a long, loud laugh. She knows she…
Read more »
Gov. Abbott directs state agency to investigate gender-transitioning procedures as child abuseAbbott said gender reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse under existing state law.
Read more »