Has theHas the breakup of Electric Utilities been a good thing?

[Meredith Trimble]

Up

0

Down

::

The latest electrical grid disaster in Texas has been a bell-weather moment to be studied for the future.  When vertically integrated utilities are broken up, market forces on each component may not allow for the needed contingency planning to weather the “100 yr storm”.  If regulators or third parties don’t provide coordination, the situation in Texas will be repeated.

[Meredith Trimble]

Up

0

Down

::

The has lines that froze in Texas were probably from fracking.  This process produces “wet” gas that should be “dried” before compression for transport in pipelines.  At lower temperatures and higher pressures, methane clathrate(ice) will form to plug things up, otherwise.  By not investing in such equipment our energy independence is more fragile.

[Author]

Posts