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submitted 11 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Almost three years since the deadly Texas blackout of 2021, a panel of judges from the First Court of Appeals in Houston has ruled that big power companies cannot be held liable for failure to provide electricity during the crisis. The reason is Texas’ deregulated energy market.

The decision seems likely to protect the companies from lawsuits filed against them after the blackout. It leaves the families of those who died unsure where next to seek justice.

In February of 2021, a massive cold front descended on Texas, bringing days of ice and snow. The weather increased energy demand and reduced supply by freezing up power generators and the state’s natural gas supply chain. This led to a blackout that left millions of Texans without energy for nearly a week.

The state has said almost 250 people died because of the winter storm and blackout, but some analysts call that a serious undercount.

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[-] TigrisMorte@kbin.social 269 points 11 months ago

It is almost like natural monopolies, such as primary power generation and supply, should be under the control of the Government and not private individuals.

[-] girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works 103 points 11 months ago

They all used to be. Then Reagan and Clinton happened.

[-] TigrisMorte@kbin.social 35 points 11 months ago

ding ding ding. We have a winner! Give that man a prize!

[-] girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works 40 points 11 months ago

Thank you, thank you.

My prize will sit proudly in my woman cave.

[-] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 9 points 11 months ago

Sorry but lemmy has declared you a male. Your penis will arrive in 3 to 5 business days.

[-] girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works 7 points 11 months ago

I have a battery-operated one that gives me no drama or grief.

Hopefully that penis is returnable.

[-] EdibleFriend@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Best I can do is store credit.

[-] humorlessrepost@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

If she really cared about her battery-operated penis, she’d use the store credit to buy it a fleshlight.

[-] TigrisMorte@kbin.social 2 points 11 months ago

Please note; man was intended as species as in "give that dog a prize" I'm just a dead cat.

[-] girlfreddy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago
[-] Socsa@sh.itjust.works 11 points 11 months ago

Most places that are not Texas still have something resembling the old school utility model where the state effectively grants a license to a private company to operate and manage the grid, which is itself a public right of way. This is governed by a state appointed utility board.

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 4 points 11 months ago

And in RI, when everyone objects loudly, they nod their heads, and then do it anyway.

[-] YoHuckleberry@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

Can you point me to where I might learn more about this?

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this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2023
1004 points (98.8% liked)

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