• Texas power prices soared 20,000% Wednesday evening amid another brutal heat wave.

  • Spot electricity prices topped $5,000 per megawatt-hour, up more than 200 times from Wednesday morning.

  • The state’s grid operator issued its second-highest energy emergency, then later said conditions returned to normal.

  • tallwookie@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    while it’s true that the majority of the electricity generated in WA is hydroelectric, we also dont get much in the way of heat. I used my AC for about 4 weeks this year. if we had the same levels of heat as some parts of TX, our electricity would not be as cheap as it is now.

    • lemmyvore@feddit.nl
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      1 year ago

      Texas has plenty of power. Their problem is the delivery network. Their prices surge because power can’t be delivered to everybody, not because there isn’t enough for everybody.

      • protist@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        I need you to explain this further? The price goes up because the demand on the grid goes up, and as the price goes up, typically additional generation comes online to take advantage of higher rates. I’m not saying it’s a good system by any means, but I don’t understand what you mean saying “power can’t be delivered to everybody”

      • SoylentBlake@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        They lead the nation, iirc. Not just in the space for it, but for the actual amount that’s been implemented.

        • WalrusDragonOnABike@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          The problem hasn’t been during the day. The supply and demand has a lag (sun comes out and its still cool and sun goes down and its still hot). The hottest part of the day has been about 6pm and then solar power starts declining before power use. That’s been when the shortages have been.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      You ever been east of the mountains? It’s going to be over 90 where my parents are today. It was over 100 for quite a bit this summer.

    • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      If you had the same amount of heat, you’d have more sunlight hours and thus better conditions for solar power. If you had more wind, wind power etc.

      There’s no scenario anywhere in the world where the entire energy consumption and more can’t be supplied via renewable sources. All that’s missing is the political will to go against the fossil fuel industry.