Justin Johnson

And that day in September 2023 was the ultimate test of whether Texas's free market batteries, like the ones that Stephanie's company owns, could stabilize the grid and avoid blackouts.

And that day in September 2023 was the ultimate test of whether Texas's free market batteries, like the ones that Stephanie's company owns, could stabilize the grid and avoid blackouts.

And that day in September 2023 was the ultimate test of whether Texas's free market batteries, like the ones that Stephanie's company owns, could stabilize the grid and avoid blackouts.

As evening came, Texas's power reserves dwindled. A bunch of wind electricity was being produced in the south, but was overloading the wires, taking them to the north, where a lot of the demand was. This was a dangerous situation of congestion. At one point, people in Stephanie's company noticed the signs of a huge gap in electricity needs.

As evening came, Texas's power reserves dwindled. A bunch of wind electricity was being produced in the south, but was overloading the wires, taking them to the north, where a lot of the demand was. This was a dangerous situation of congestion. At one point, people in Stephanie's company noticed the signs of a huge gap in electricity needs.

As evening came, Texas's power reserves dwindled. A bunch of wind electricity was being produced in the south, but was overloading the wires, taking them to the north, where a lot of the demand was. This was a dangerous situation of congestion. At one point, people in Stephanie's company noticed the signs of a huge gap in electricity needs.

Yeah, living on the edge of the grid.

Yeah, living on the edge of the grid.

Yeah, living on the edge of the grid.

It's like the duck paddling. You guys are the feet paddling very fast and the duck just cruises along the pond.

It's like the duck paddling. You guys are the feet paddling very fast and the duck just cruises along the pond.

It's like the duck paddling. You guys are the feet paddling very fast and the duck just cruises along the pond.

So is this a story about the beauty of prices and visibly guiding company behavior all around Texas? Is this a free market fable?

So is this a story about the beauty of prices and visibly guiding company behavior all around Texas? Is this a free market fable?

So is this a story about the beauty of prices and visibly guiding company behavior all around Texas? Is this a free market fable?

Maybe called Friedrich Highquack?

Maybe called Friedrich Highquack?

Maybe called Friedrich Highquack?

Whatever the case, the Texas system is encouraging companies to build a lot of grid-scale batteries. From basically nothing in 2020, by 2024, the state had enough batteries to power an entire small city for a day. In the battery race of California, Texas is coming second, but it is catching up fast.

Whatever the case, the Texas system is encouraging companies to build a lot of grid-scale batteries. From basically nothing in 2020, by 2024, the state had enough batteries to power an entire small city for a day. In the battery race of California, Texas is coming second, but it is catching up fast.