Statement on RRC Commissioners’ Extension of Emergency Order to Assist Texans During Winter Storm

AUSTIN – Statement on action by RRC commissioners extending assistance to Texans during the winter storm:

The safety and protection of Texas residents is of utmost importance to the RRC. During this severe winter storm, the RRC has been in constant contact daily with energy producers, energy utility companies, pipeline operators, Public Utility Commission of Texas and other state agencies to provide the support they need for natural gas deliveries to help Texans. Commissioners took a proactive step to prioritize natural gas deliveries for human needs with an emergency order last Friday, Feb. 12. This evening, in an open meeting, commissioners extended the emergency order until Tuesday, Feb. 23.

The emergency order passed last Friday and extended today continues to elevate natural gas deliveries to electric generation facilities serving human needs customers to a higher priority. This action helps ensure the availability of gas supplies to gas-fired generation facilities in Texas during this critical period. The Commission took this action to help protect public health and safety during this extreme weather event.

The emergency order can be found at this link: https://rrc.texas.gov/media/lkwfnpqw/emergency-order-021721-final-signed.pdf.