Facing a frosty morning, Texas shivered with wind chills below zero during the week of Jan. 14-20. Even as businesses reopened after the holidays, major school districts stayed closed due to icy conditions.
“It is very, very cold,” Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin said on Jan. 15 in an interview with The New York Times. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) asked for energy conservation on the morning of Jan. 16 as the state’s power grid faced a crucial test.
ERCOT then assured there was enough power to get through the day, and things were expected to get better with a temperature rise. By late morning, ERCOT canceled the conservation plea, giving credit to Texans and some handy grid tools for handling the high demand. This year’s success stood out from the 2021 grid troubles. Despite the freezing air, Dallas roads stayed clear for the most part, defying worries about ice.
A few water main issues in Dallas and Fort Worth didn’t spoil the mood. While the biggest school districts played it safe, others cautiously reopened. The extended closure provided an unexpected bonus for Dallas College students – one more day of winter break before stepping into the spring semester.
“I don’t like it when the weather is too cold, but enjoying an extra day off at home under my sheets was very enjoyable,” said Ardit Bogdani, a Dallas College student.
This respite was a chance to savor the wintry weather a bit longer and recharge before the academic hustle resumed.
