AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - An industry official says the state's
natural gas producers performed "admirably" during last week's
cold snap and never faced a gas shortage despite lost production.

Ron Kitchens, chairman of the Texas Energy Reliability Council,
was summoned to the Texas Railroad Commission Tuesday to explain
the natural gas industry's role in the Feb. 2 cold front that
triggered rolling power outages across the state.
 

Officials said 82 out of 550 Texas power plants failed after
high winds drove temperatures into the teens. Kitchens said the
problems were caused by the failure of coal plants.
 

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said a lack of adequate weatherization
was the main cause for the power plants to shut down, including the
lack of sufficient pressure in natural gas lines to fuel electric
generators.