I read an article from the Dallas Morning News this morning about the storm related electrical problems in Texas. They stated in the article that current prices are spiking as high as $9/kwh. Some providers are urging customers to find another supplier. We are paying around $.14/kwh and that would be a 6,400% increase for us. WOW!
Fortunately for us up in the frigid north, electric heat is impractical and heat pumps are only viable as a secondary source or if a geothermal heat exchanger is used so increased electrical demand would be limited to the use of engine heaters. Some may recall a few years back when there was a nation wide propane shortage and prices spiked to around three times normal prices if it was even available.
I shudder to think of the situation that would occur if a storm like this happened after a widespread switch to electric powered vehicles. Blackouts, brownouts, and rolling blackouts are bad enough in warm weather. In cold weather, they can be deadly.