Almost three years since the deadly Texas blackout of 2021, a panel of judges from the First Court of Appeals in Houston has ruled that big power companies cannot be held liable for failure to provide electricity during the crisis. The reason is Texas’ deregulated energy market.

The decision seems likely to protect the companies from lawsuits filed against them after the blackout. It leaves the families of those who died unsure where next to seek justice.

In February of 2021, a massive cold front descended on Texas, bringing days of ice and snow. The weather increased energy demand and reduced supply by freezing up power generators and the state’s natural gas supply chain. This led to a blackout that left millions of Texans without energy for nearly a week.

The state has said almost 250 people died because of the winter storm and blackout, but some analysts call that a serious undercount.

  • BolexForSoup@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    Screw that ruling but your argument doesn’t really make sense. A company once filed doesn’t cease to exist if all the people associated with it die. Unless you mean “if everyone dies” which is not really a reasonable bar lol

    • Bakkoda
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      11 months ago

      Seems like a totally reasonable bar for Texas power companies.

    • girlfreddy
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      11 months ago

      It does make sense if you widen your view to include the millennia humans were on the planet without a business in sight.

      • BolexForSoup@kbin.social
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        11 months ago

        Look we are on “the same side” here as far as culpability. The state of texas failed. The power companies failed. Hundreds died. They should be held accountable from top to bottom.

        I’m saying the specific argument you are making is not strong.