It's very simple. We eliminated some base load coal through regulation and replaced it with variable wind, and used flexible gas to make up the difference in wind variation as needed. We didn't plan on three things:
1. Super cold weather can condense and freeze water vapor in raw gas
2. Super cold weather increases gas demand for direct thermal heating when it is needed most for power also.
3. If you increase demand so you are at 100% gas output and wind is part of the output and wind falls off, there's no way to make up the difference and you HAVE to start blackouts or you cause plants to shut down due to overload to prevent damage.

ABATTBQ87 said:

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Tony Franklins Other Shoe said:

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I don't remember the 83 freeze. I do remember the big snow event in 84 in SA where we delayed going back to school a day or two.

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That snow event was January of 1985

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Correct. I ran out of fingers and toes.

rocky the dog said:

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Yeah, it was a really, really cold year.

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I remember seeing this movie at the theatre, and this scene had the place dying.

we're at 40'f today; the below freezing time this week was probably around 114 hours

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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I don't remember it being this much hysteria.

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Didn't have social media then

We also had power and water.