Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called on the state attorney general and the railroad commissioner to investigate Atmos Energy’s lack of preparation for the recent severe winter weather.
Abbott sent letters to Attorney General Ken Paxton and Railroad Commission Chairman Christi Craddick on Dec. 28 asking their agencies to investigate the energy company’s failure to deliver natural gas service to portions of north and central Texas.
Atmos energy is the nation’s largest natural gas-only distributor that provides gas to more than 3 million customers in eight states.
The governor referenced legislation passed in 2021 that was implemented by the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid, saying they set new unofficial all-time winter peak records, and that no Texan lost power because of ERCOT’s grid.
“Leading up to, and during the winter event, State of Texas agencies worked around the clock to mobilize resources and assist utilities in any way possible. At no time did Atmos Energy request assistance,” the letter said.
“Atmos’ conduct is unacceptable and concrete action must be taken ... to ensure it is not repeated the next time that winter weather engulfs our state,” Abbott went on.
“It is for these reasons I request [your agency] to investigate Atmos Energy. Because we are just beginning the winter season, and because customers of Atmos deserve to have reliable natural gas service during this winter, there is an urgency to have [your agency’s] investigation concluded in a matter of weeks.”
In his letter to Paxton, Abbott asserted that “Substantial evidence supports the conclusion that Atmos Energy either was unprepared for the winter weather system, failed to perform for its customers as promised or both.
“Texans deserve natural gas providers that fulfill their commitment.
“I encourage the Office of the Attorney General to investigate Atmos Energy’s failure to prepare for the winter weather event and deliver critical natural gas service to Texans when they needed it the most.”
Weather struggles were felt nationwide as the country attempted to recover from the catastrophic winter storm that hit the majority of the United States during the holiday weekend.
According to the National Weather Service, the first of a week’s worth of storms brought high winds and flood threats from Washington state down to California beginning on Dec. 28.
The storm has resulted in at least 60 deaths and weather alerts for all 11 of the western states.
Among the areas deeply affected was Seattle’s South Park neighborhood which flooded early on Dec. 27, driving a number of families from their homes.
Weather service meteorologist Richard Bann said the West Coast rainfall will move from Northern California to the area north of Los Angeles and continue into the Sierra Nevada.
Bannister’s said some areas experienced up to an inch-and-a-half of rain in just one hour.
While floodwaters are mostly subsiding, many of the people displaced are unable to move back into their houses owing to water damage.
Seattle residents said that water rapidly surged up to their hips in some homes.
Seattle’s public utilities service noted in a statement that the city’s flooding was caused by the Duwamish River overflowing its banks—a combination of heavy rainfall and an expected sea level rise. It caused a number of homes and businesses in the South Park neighborhood to be inundated.
Public utility crews responded to affected areas and worked with community members to mitigate damage, however, local residents reported water up to the arms of chairs and were in some cases unable to open their doors to leave because of the water pressure against their homes.
The West Coast isn’t alone with its weather concerns. Much of the rest of the United States is still recovering from an Arctic storm that killed more than 60 people, more than half of whom came from New York state.
New York residents saw some relief on Dec. 28 as the worst of the historic winter storm fell into the rearview, but community members are still recovering from the impact of the freezing blast that dropped more than 50 inches of snow between Christmas Eve and midweek.
Wind gusts in the freezing areas were up to 70 mph at times during the icy weather, and the death toll in Erie County New York alone rose to 34 as rescue workers found snowbound individuals who were stranded in their homes and cars for several days.
