HOUSTON – Four members of the board at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, intend to resign following last week’s blackouts that left millions in the state without power amid brutal winter weather.
The board chairwoman, vice chairman, and two other members of the ERCOT board issued a joint statement announcing their intention to resign at a meeting on Wednesday, according to a filing with the Texas Public Utility Commission.
“To allow state leaders a free hand with the future direction and to eliminate distractions, we are resigning from the board effective after our urgent board teleconference meeting adjourns on Wednesday, February 24, 2021,” the statement said.
ERCOT did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News.
The letter was signed by Board Chairwoman Sally Talberg, Vice Chairman Peter Cramton, Finance and Audit Committee Chairman Terry Bulger, and Human Resources and Governance Committee Chairman Raymond Hepper.
In the letter, the four members said that they have heard the concerns regarding “out-of-state” board leadership and want to acknowledge the “pain and suffering” of Texans during the past week.
With the right follow-through, Texas can lead the nation in investing in infrastructure and emergency preparedness to withstand the effects of severe weather events — whether in the form of flooding, drought, extreme temperatures, or hurricanes,” the letter said. “We want what is best for ERCOT and Texas.”
A fifth person, Craig Ivey, withdrew his petition to fill a vacant spot on the board in a letter acknowledging that he too resides outside the state of Texas, according to the filing. Ivey called Texas a state with a “rich history” where the people are “proud, independent, and resilient” in his withdrawal notice.
“I have every confidence that Texas and ERCOT will emerge from this crisis better than before,” Ivey’s letter said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that he “welcomed” the resignations of the ERCOT board members in a statement Tuesday.
(Production: Doha Madani | NBC News)