Propane Council of Texas urges backup energy planning after May storms

By AI, Created 9:51 PM UTC, May 26, 2026, /AGP/ – Severe weather in May knocked out power to thousands of Texas customers and renewed attention on backup energy options. The Propane Council of Texas says propane can help keep homes, businesses, and critical facilities running during outages because it is stored on-site and works independently from the electric grid.

Why it matters: - Texas has already seen multiple weather-related outages this month, underscoring how quickly storms can disrupt power, refrigeration, cooling, and medical equipment. - Propane can support backup systems during outages, which makes it a practical option for families, emergency responders, and critical facilities that need resilience before the next storm.

What happened: - May 2026 brought several rounds of severe weather across Texas, including large hail, winds above 70 mph, flash flooding, and widespread outages. - Mother’s Day weekend storms left more than 18,000 Austin Energy customers without power. - Less than two weeks later, storms across Central and Southeast Texas caused more damage and outages. - By Memorial Day weekend, more than 168,000 Houston-area customers were without power after severe thunderstorms. - North Texas also saw intense storm activity, with nearly 300 severe weather reports during a volatile atmospheric setup that stretched into May.

The details: - The Propane Council of Texas is highlighting propane’s role in supporting homes, businesses, and critical operations during power disruptions. - Propane is stored on-site rather than delivered through the electric grid. - That storage model can allow propane to keep supplying fuel to connected systems during broader power disruptions, depending on equipment configuration and site conditions. - During severe weather, propane may support standby generators, air conditioning during extreme heat, medical and oxygen equipment, refrigeration for food and medications, cooking, and other critical needs during extended outages. - Texas averages more than 100 tornadoes each year and has more federally declared disasters than any other state. - Recent events such as Winter Storm Uri in 2021 and Hurricane Harvey in 2017 showed how prolonged outages can affect communities across the state. - Propane supports uses beyond homes, including hospitals, farms, restaurants, schools, emergency response operations, and other facilities where continuous operation matters during outages. - Bill Van Hoy, executive director of the Propane Council of Texas, said propane can play an important role in preparedness planning because it operates independently from the grid.

Between the lines: - The message is less about one storm and more about a recurring Texas risk: severe weather can overwhelm power infrastructure with little warning. - The council is framing propane as one layer in a broader resilience strategy, not a replacement for grid power. - The emphasis on multiple energy options reflects a larger preparedness shift as communities reassess how to stay operational during longer outages.

What’s next: - The Propane Council of Texas is urging homeowners, businesses, and community leaders to review preparedness plans before the next severe-weather event. - Texans heading deeper into storm season are being pushed to evaluate backup energy needs now rather than after outages begin. - More information is available in the council’s announcement.