THE CURRENT

February 27, 2026

Wildfire dangers expanding to additional regions in Texas

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has alerted the public that the state has entered Preparedness Level 3 regarding wildfire dangers. Nearly all of Texas is facing drought conditions, and areas ranging from the Panhandle to East, West and Central Texas are categorized as high risk.



TDEM recommends residents heed local warnings and avoid spark-causing activities, since high winds can turn a small blaze into a large one quickly. Always comply with county burn bans and have an evacuation plan available. Moreover, electric utilities may temporarily deenergize lines in highly dangerous weather to reduce wildfire ignition risk.

Stay aware of fire risks at the Texas Forestry Service Website. 

Recent polling shows Texans see economic growth as a strength and recognize the need for investment in electric infrastructure.

This month, AECT kicked off a statewide public awareness campaign regarding the urgent need for electricity investment to meet the needs of today and the future. As part of the launch, AECT released polling data showing: 

• 81 percent of Texas voters say population growth and increased usage are driving rising electricity demand;
• 86 percent support investments in electric infrastructure to protect reliability and affordability; and
• 52 percent say it is better to invest now at a lower cost rather than wait until problems arise.

Texas continues to lead the nation in population and economic growth, which creates a significant opportunity for the state to invest in electric infrastructure while keeping prices affordable for all Texans. When every new electron is spoken for, the cost of investment is spread throughout the state. Read more here. 

ERCOT reports strong performance during Winter Storm Fern

When Winter Storm Fern hit on January 22, it marked the third largest winter storm to hit Texas since 2021. At the February ERCOT Board meeting, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas reported that despite Fern’s severity, consumers experienced significantly lower forced outages than during Winter Storm Elliot in 2022, a similar storm.



The PUC and ERCOT implemented rules and regulations related to weatherization five years ago, and the electric industry’s strong performance indicates that these improvements are taking hold. Click here for more detail from ERCOT.

In Case You Missed It: Recent Electricity News

Report: Texas primed to leap over Virginia for global data center lead (Chron, 2/24)

Texas is about to overtake California in battery storage (Elektrek, 2/23)

CenterPoint peak load to jump 50% by 2029 — 2 years earlier than previously expected (Utility Dive, 2/19)

NRG Energy to build $617M power plant in Harris County, Governor Abbott announces (Click2Houston, 2/17)

Surge in gas-fired power for data centers, with Texas leading (Center Square, 2/6)

Be sure to follow @aectnet on Twitter for regular updates on Texas’ electric performance, as well as news from our member companies and seasonal information related to electric usage and safety.