10-DIGIT DIALING MANDATORY IN SEVERAL NEW AREAS
The days of being able to just dial seven digits in seven Texas area codes are behind us.
In July 2020, the Federal Communications Commission approved 988 as the abbreviated dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Several Texas area codes (254, 361, 409, 806, 830, 915 and 940) have numbers with a 988 prefix, and had to transition to 10-digit local dialing after the FCC order.
The Texas Public Utility Commission announced effective Oct. 25 that all local calls dialed in those area codes with just seven digits will reach a recording that prompts the caller to redial using all 10 digits. The change does not affect price, coverage area or other rates and services, according to the PUC.
Uri’s Impact
More than eight months after an unprecedented snow and ice storm led to widespread power blackouts in Texas, the Texas Comptroller’s office took an in-depth look at the state’s response and the legislative actions that followed.
Texas is the only state in the continental United States with its own electric power grid, which serves 90% of its population. Parts of East Texas, the Panhandle and El Paso are outside the area managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and didn’t experience widespread outages.
Winter Storm Uri knocked out power and disrupted water utilities for nearly 70% of the state’s residents for extended periods. Financial loss estimates range from $80 billion to $130 billion, according to Comptroller Glenn Hegar.
The comptroller’s report explains the economic toll of the storm and the legislative changes to the electric market structure passed in the 87thLegislature. Critics have said the changes do not go far enough to make power companies weatherize their plants to insure against further outages due to extreme weather.
Drought expands
Texas is drying up.
Warmer and drier conditions are being reported throughout much of the state, reports the Texas Water Development Board. Approximately onefifth of the state is now experiencing drought conditions, mainly in Northeast Texas, the Panhandle, Far West Texas and South Texas.
The National Weather Service expects drought to expand across the state through the end of January due to La Niña conditions that are expected to bring Texas a warmer and drier winter than normal.
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.