Texas energy regulator extends gas prioritization

State energy regulator Texas Railroad Commission late yesterday extended orders prioritizing natural gas for power generation, residences and hospitals and lowering priority for industrial use.

The regulator extended its curtailment order to 23 February, from an original end date of 19 February. The order inserts electric generation ahead of deliveries to small industrial users, large consumers that have no alternative feedstocks, and large users that use gas for boiler fuel or other demand with alternative feedstocks.

The state continues to struggle with power generation after a major winter storm froze natural gas infrastructure and knocked out multiple fuel sources for power. Texas's power grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, is using rotating outages to match power demand in the bitter cold to available supply.

By Elliott Blackburn