AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller introduced a multi-step solution to the February power system failure that caused millions of dollars of damage to the Texas agriculture industry. 

His Proper Oversight, Winterization and Electricity Reform (P.O.W.E.R.) Plan is a set of proposed reforms of the state electricity grid and the institutions responsible for its reliable and efficient operation. 

“The winter storms and the system failure of the grid had a profound impact on our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers,” said Miller.  “Just as importantly, it has led to disruptions in our food supply, our water supply, and the prices that every Texan pays for some of life’s most important resources.”

Winter Storm Uri caused billions of dollars’ worth of damage to Texas agriculture, much of it because of electricity and natural gas system failures. Without electricity, water pumps could not operate, causing millions of dollars of damages to water pipes and systems. Without electricity, food processing plants went dark and were not able to operate.  Agriculture feed manufacturers were also shutdown, leaving ag producers scrambling to feed freezing livestock. 

Without electricity and gas, milk plants could not pasteurize product, so up to 14 million dollars of milk had to be dumped. Without electricity and heat at poultry farms, newly-hatched baby chicks froze and died.

Miller was one of the first statewide elected officials to raise an alarm about the anticipated disaster when he issued a “red alert” about threats to the food supply chain on February 16th.

“Unbeknownst to most Texans, Texas came within 4 minutes and 37 seconds of a complete collapse of the power system on February 15th,” said Miller. “We must never allow this to happen again.”