A Houston appeals court has ruled negligence lawsuits can move forward against Oncor and other power companies sued over their involvement in the deadly power blackouts during the 2021 winter storm.
As Texas faced record-low temperatures in February 2021 and snow and ice made roads impassable, the state’s electric grid operator lost control of the power.
More than 200 people died during the blackouts which resulted in millions being without power or water for days. The victims lived in 77 counties and ranged in age from an infant to 102 years old. More than half of the people who died suffered from hypothermia, which is caused by prolonged exposure to the cold.
The ruling involves more than 1,000 Texans and means gross negligence and intentional misconduct claims against power providers can go to trial.
During the storm, ERCOT ordered power to be cut off in some locations to help maintain the grid, and power companies decided where to make the cuts.
ERCOT is protected from any liability thanks to a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court.