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submitted 10 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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[-] KingThrillgore@lemmy.ml 14 points 10 months ago

Man, Texas is a real shithole

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 13 points 10 months ago

What a shithole. And I say that as an Indiana resident. At least our heat stays on in the winter.

[-] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 14 points 10 months ago

Yeah these shithole states are really poisoning the blood of America. Did I get that right? /s

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[-] recapitated@lemmy.world 12 points 10 months ago

Is there legislation that says otherwise? What should the judges do here?

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[-] ramble81@lemm.ee 11 points 10 months ago

You have the right to food, clothing and shelter, and eventually they’ll rule those aren’t required either.

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[-] HiddenLayer5@lemmy.ml 10 points 10 months ago

Second only to the lack of responsibility that Texan judges have.

[-] DoomBot5@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

It amazes me that Texas gets away with this. One would think that being part of the federation of states means what you do immediately puts you under federal oversight, regardless if it crosses state lines or not.

[-] OpenStars@kbin.social 7 points 10 months ago

They went to very special efforts to remove themselves from the national energy grid, the only one of the Continental states that did so iirc. Which didn't stop them from halfheartedly asking for aid when shit hit the fan. They literally asked for this "right", to self regulate independently from the federal government.

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

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