Natural gas infrastructure considered “critical” by the state will be required to weatherize operations under rules approved Tuesday by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). 

Objections by consumer and watchdog groups failed to sway the three-member commission, which enacted the rules unanimously. 

Critics in comments sent to RRC and in person at the open meeting had implored the RRC to ensure utilities were forced to prepare for extreme weather events following Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. The severe freeze, which sent more than 30 GW of generation offline in Texas alone, lasted up to a week in some areas.

The rules were proposed by the RRC last fall, following passage of state Senate Bill 3. They were enacted as 16 Texas Administrative Code section 3.66,...