HOUSTON — When Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to millions of homes and businesses in July, some neighborhood H-E-B stores remained fully operational. That's because they use a microgrid, which supplies a self-contained electrical network that generates power.
The technology helps H-E-B stay connected with its customers during outages.
Shoppers at the H-E-B on North Shepherd were excited to load up on groceries once power was restored to their homes.
"The power was off, but H-E-B was open. They remained, had everything we basically needed, barbecue items such as charcoal and lighter fluid, fresh meats," Kiwasha Bonner said.
At a time when non-perishables are typically the only option, H-E-B was able to let their customers think outside the box.
"Big stuff -- meat, briskets type stuff, you know, cook, smoke, that keep a long time," Jonathan James said.
H-E-B General Manager Tammy Hager explained how her store on North Shepherd was able to keep its doors open.
"Just by keeping the lights on," Hager said.
As soon as the lights go out, the generators kick on, and it is business as usual.
Thomas McAndrew is the CEO and Founder of Enchanted Rock, the Houston-based company that uses natural gas to deliver backup power during outages.
McAndrew said H-E-B approached his company in 2016 after storms in the Houston area affected the ability to move its diesel-powered generation from one store to the next. Enchanted Rock commissioned its first natural gas microgrid at an H-E-B in Bay City later that year.
"They just want the lights to stay on, and so we said, you know what? There’s a way to do that," McAndrew said.
Enchanted Rock gets natural gas from underground pipelines, which are not impacted by high winds and flooding. When the system senses a loss in power, it automatically turns on and isolates that site from the ERCOT grid.
"There’s no connection back. We’re just powering that specific facility. We’re leveraging the underground natural gas system to provide power when the above-ground lines can’t do that," McAndrew said.
Operators monitor the microgrids from inside a large warehouse downtown. To date, they keep watch of more than 300 across the country.
"We’re providing a critical element by allowing them to stay in business and have power, and so we are very proud of that," McAndrew said.
Today, more than 100 H-E-B stores are equipped with the technology, allowing them to serve their customers more than just groceries.
"We even set up portable charging devices for them in our lobby with chairs and everything so that they could come in and still power up their laptops or their cell phones," Hager said.
It's the kind of customer service shoppers won’t soon forget.
"It was wonderful," Bonner said.
"We know that they're dependable. We're always going to be able to come and get what we need at H-E-B," Macy Middleton said.
McAndrew said Enchanted Rock recently commissioned microgrids in some subdivisions in California. While doing something on the residential level in Texas is not out of the realm of possibilities, it would take some changes in regulation, which could take time.