Five Days in the Dark: Lessons from Hurricane Beryl on the Fragility of our Infrastructure

He huffed and puffed and brought the lights down........

Hurricane Beryl swept through Houston like an uninvited guest, leaving chaos and darkness in its wake. I spent five days without power in the sweltering heat, living on the kindness of friends who opened their homes to me.

A Personal Story

I will never forget the five days I spent without power during Hurricane Beryl. The heat was oppressive, and the sense of helplessness was overwhelming. I relied on the kindness of friends who offered me a place to stay. I will be grateful for their kindness and remember to pay it forward. Their hospitality was a lifeline. ........

However, not everyone is blessed with such a support network. Many were forced to endure the heat in their homes after losing food due to the lack of refrigeration. Some took to their cars to cool down if they had adequate gasoline.......

Some had generators ......

Others simply headed for any place they could find, driving as fast as Austin or San Antonio to find hotel rooms.

This experience was a stark wake-up call. It underscored the urgent need for a robust and resilient power infrastructure. The time for change is now.

The Reality of Our Aging Power Grid

Our power grid is old. Many systems in place were designed in the mid-20th century and have not been updated to meet today's demands. Texas has had 210 weather-related power outages from 2000 to 2023, more than any other state. Beryl was the second to hit Houston after the Derecho storms earlier in the year.

The state's power infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the pressures of climate change and increased energy consumption.

Over 2.6 million customers lost power during Hurricane Beryl, and the sweltering heat made the situation unbearable for many, especially the elderly and those with medical conditions. This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a matter of public health and safety. The economic impact was also significant, with businesses forced to shut down and losses in productivity.

Climate Disasters: The New Normal

Climate change is making extreme weather events more common. Hurricanes are becoming more powerful, and heat waves are lasting longer. Our power grid, in its current state, cannot withstand these new challenges. The consequences of not addressing this issue are dire. We face the risk of more frequent and prolonged outages, which can disrupt lives, businesses, and the economy.

Experts predict that as emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to increase, severe weather disasters will worsen. Fire seasons are getting more prolonged and intense, and warmer oceans fuel storms, making hurricanes stronger. For instance, days before Hurricane Beryl made landfall, it set records for its strength early in the hurricane season.

What's in Store?

Modernizing our power grid is a necessity. We must invest in new technologies, renewable energy sources, and infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather conditions. This will require cooperation between government, industry, and the public.

Texas does have its own power grid and is isolated from the grids that serve the eastern and western halves of the United States. The grid's fragility became evident when millions were plunged into cold darkness during a winter storm in 2021 due to insufficient power generation to meet demand. Over 200 people died. And weather related outages are predicted to increase....

Strengthening Comes at a Cost

Utilities and state leaders have options for strengthening utility infrastructure, but someone needs to pay. Strategies include using more robust materials for poles, placing poles closer together, trimming or removing trees around power lines more aggressively, or burying lines underground. For example, CenterPoint suggested investing more than $2 billion to strengthen its poles and wires, using federal and state funding to cover some costs.

Another utility, Oncor, proposed spending nearly $3 billion to harden poles, replace old cables, and install underground wires. This includes $285 million to expand its vegetation management program and $900 million for wildfire protection. Will this actually happen?

Renewables and Grid Stability

Concerns linger regarding the impact of renewables on Texas' electricity. While renewables have contributed to a more diverse energy portfolio, some experts warn of potential disruptions as Texas transitions into less windy months. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has warned about the possibility of rolling blackouts during peak energy usage, especially around 9 p.m. when wind energy availability is low. Perhaps Nuclear is the answer?

From 2023 to 2024, renewable energy generation in the U.S. is projected to increase from 22% to 24%, while nuclear power's share remains steady at 19%.

Your Voice Matters

As readers of The Supply Chain Strategist, you are part of a knowledgeable and engaged community. Your insights and advice are invaluable. What recommendations would you give to CenterPoint and other energy providers to help them prepare for future climate disasters? How can we ensure that our power grid is resilient and reliable? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below?

I am grateful to have published over 50 articles and sincerely appreciate the support from my readers. If you found this article insightful, please share it with your network. Join the 1,300+ readers who receive these weekly insights directly in their inbox by subscribing to the "Supply Chain Strategist."