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.

    • SCB@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Worth noting this ruling is explicitly based on statewide legislation, meaning this could be changed at any time, if the legislature cared at all.

      You really do get exactly what you vote for.

    • capital@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      It’s not that they love it. They’re just so dumb they’ll be convinced it was the fault of the gays and/or trans people.

      I just moved out of that state.

      • Adub@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        Never blamed anyone for leaving but use to advocate a lot to push for change in red states like mine but at this point its obvious they are trying to make living in those states untenable for those with a conscious or not completely crushed & apathetic.

      • Da_Boom@iusearchlinux.fyi
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        11 months ago

        Are you sure its not just Gerrymandering and laws that make it harder for votes to actually matter?

        From what I’ve heard is that there’s a large majority stuck in Texas who disagree with the decisions of their government but are too poor to leave the state.