On Thursday, CenterPoint Power launched proposed plans to ship 15 of its cell turbines — presently situated in Houston — to San Antonio this summer season to alleviate an anticipated electrical energy shortfall and allegedly cut back the payments of Houston-area clients.
Within the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl — which resulted in additional than 40 deaths, and the lack of energy for greater than 2.2 million houses, colleges and companies — CenterPoint confronted scrutiny for its response to the storm. One of many most important sticking factors for a lot of was the corporate’s $800 million lease of cell turbines that went unused in the course of the storm. CenterPoint mentioned by way of a press release that the turbines had been leased in response to Winter Storm Uri.
In keeping with CenterPoint, the current proposal to ship the turbines to San Antonio would alleviate the price for Houstonians. The corporate additionally mentioned this proposal would help the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the state whereas making no revenue from the doable deal. CenterPoint didn’t present precise figures for the way the deal would cut back clients’ payments.
“As a part of our dedication to higher serve our clients, hearken to suggestions, and assist handle the state’s rising vitality wants, we have been working diligently to find out the long run function of those 15 large-scale emergency technology items that have been initially acquired to assist defend clients towards excessive climate occasions like Winter Storm Uri,” President & CEO of CenterPoint Power mentioned by way of a press release. “Our prime precedence has remained discovering a optimistic, Texas-driven answer for these items that helps handle the vitality wants of Texans whereas serving to cut back our clients’ payments.”
CenterPoint mentioned that the 15 turbines could possibly be used to offset the projected shortfall of 800 megawatts in San Antonio this summer season. The shortfall might be attributable to the request from ERCOT to retire and change three gas-fired items. Every of CenterPoint’s turbines creates 27 to 32 megawatts of energy, which means its 15 turbines might make up for about 450 megawatts.
It’s presently unclear if ERCOT will proceed with the proposal, but when the settlement goes by way of, CenterPoint mentioned the turbines would arrive in San Antonio by the summer season of 2025.
Till then, the items will stay in Houston within the case of a winter storm or excessive chilly, based on CenterPoint.
