ERCOT’s rolling blackouts draw first lawsuit; Texas AG vows probe

Updated: Feb 20, 2021 / 02:24 AM CST

An Oncor power substation is surrounded by snow in Waco, Texas, on February 18, 2021. – A deadly winter weather system that brought record-busting cold to the southern and central United States, knocking out power for millions in oil-rich Texas, blanketed the East Coast in snow February 18, 2021, disrupting coronavirus vaccinations. (Photo by Matthew Busch / AFP) (Photo by MATTHEW BUSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

DALLAS (AP) — The blackouts that left much of Texas cold and thirsty have spawned their first lawsuit.

The lawsuit filed Friday in a Nueces County court at law in Corpus Christi alleges the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, manager of the state’s main electric grid, ignored repeated warnings of weaknesses in the state’s electric power infrastructure. A Dallas law firm’s statement says its lawsuit also accuses ERCOT and American Electric Power utility of causing property damage and business interruptions during this week’s cold wave.

“The resulting widespread property damage from blackouts was caused by their negligence and gross negligence. In addition, the disruptions rendered private property unusable and amounted to an illegal ‘taking’ of private property by the government,” said the law firm’s statement.

Also, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued civil investigative demands to ERCOT and electric utility companies, vowing “to get to the bottom of this power failure.” The investigation will cover power outages, emergency plans, energy pricing and more related to the winter storm.

“The large-scale failure of Texas power companies to withstand the winter storm left multiple millions of Texans without power and heat during lethal, record-low temperatures across the state,” said a statement from Paxton’s office.