Texas power use is to break winter record

Texas is projected to need a record amount of electricity, which is unusual for this period, as temperatures descend to extremely low degrees for the state.

Last winter's consumption record was 69.8 gigawatts. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas believes a new record of at least 70.9 gigawatts will be set by early Friday. It is noted that one gigawatt can provide electricity for about 200,000 homes in Texas.

The price of power to be delivered Friday soared. In some areas it went up to $500 per megawatt-hour, in others it went even higher. That's five times more than it was on Thursday.

Texas officials have assured residents that the state's power system is well-prepared for the cold weather. However, despite all the statements and the winterization work of the relevant authorities, critics suggest that this may not be enough.