The Texas Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT), the network operator for most of the state, fired its CEO, Bill Magness, on Wednesday after the huge winter storm outages that led to multiple power cuts and several deaths.
The ERCOT board voted to remove Magness in a private three-hour session. Political leaders in Texas called for his resignation after the operator’s response to a high demand for energy left millions of people without electricity while temperatures dropped below freezing.
The board of the nonprofit network operator plans to immediately launch a search for a new CEO. Magness will remain in office for 60 days for an agreement consistent with his contract and will work with state officials and regulators on “potential reforms,” reported The Dallas Morning News.
Magness, who worked at ERCOT for more than a decade and was promoted to president and CEO in 2016, was questioned for five hours at a Texas Senate hearing last week about the nonprofit operator’s preparations before the storm, reported the Texas Tribune.
ERCOT did not immediately return The Hill’s request to comment on the vote to remove Magness.
The pressure grew on Magness and DeAnn Walker, the former chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC), which regulates ERCOT, to step down after extensive interruptions, including Texas governor lieutenant Dan Patrick (R). Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) also asked Magness to resign.
Walker went down on Monday, admitting his own responsibility in the lack of preparation for winter, he said: “I believe that others should present themselves with dignity and duty and recognize how their actions or omissions contributed to the situation”.
“2 days ago, I invited the ERCOT and PUC leaders to resign,” wrote Patrick in a tweet after Magness left. “Good news – now they are gone. Then – one of my top 31 priorities – reforming ERCOT and fixing what went wrong. “
2 days ago, I invited the ERCOT and PUC leaders to resign. Good news – now they’re gone. Then – one of my top 31 priorities – reforming ERCOT and fixing what went wrong. #txlege https://t.co/P6Qzb6PGiK
– Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) March 3, 2021
Several investigations have been launched to examine interruptions, including from a Congressional environment subcommittee. Representative President Ro Khanna
Rohit (Ro) KhannaOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior reverses Trump policy that says restricted science | Collins supports Haaland’s appointment to the Interior | Republicans pressure Biden for the environment on Obama-era politics House subcommittee investigates Texas grid operator, Democrats criticize politics, GOP fights for Trump MORE (D-Calif.) Sent a letter to Magness requesting a wide range of information about what led to the widespread grid problems.
The Texas Legislature, the attorney general’s office and PUC have also started investigations into the incident.