Freeze cuts electricity to 4 million in Texas
HOUSTON: A rare deep freeze in Texas that raised demand for power yesterday forced the state’s electric grid operator to impose rotating blackouts, leaving 4 million customers without power even as temperatures dipped to teethchattering levels.
The cold snap sweeping Texas reached the northern part of neighbouring Mexico as well, where authorities said 4.7 million electricity users lost power early yesterday. About noon (local time), service had been restored to almost 2.6 million of them.
Law enforcement reported two men were found dead on Houstonarea roadways. Causes of death were pending, but officials said the subfreezing temperatures were likely to blame.
President Joe Biden declared an emergency yesterday, unlocking federal assistance to Texas, where temperatures ranged from minus 2degC to minus 22degC.
‘‘The Texas power grid has not been compromised. The ability of some companies that generate the power has been frozen,’’ Governor Greg Abbott wrote on Twitter.
‘‘They are working to get generation back on line.’’
Abbott also deployed the National Guard to assist in the restoration of electricity.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport said it would remain closed until at least 1pm today (local time), while the city’s Hobby Airport ceased operations until at least noon today.
The freeze also shut oil refineries and forced restrictions on natural gas pipeline operators.
Apart from Texas, much of the United States was in the grip of bonechilling weather over the threeday Presidents Day holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service said an Arctic air mass had spread southward, well beyond areas accustomed to freezing weather, and winter storm warnings were posted for most of the Gulf Coast region, Oklahoma and Missouri.
In parts of Louisiana curfews were imposed to keep residents off the roads. — Reuters