The family of an 11-year-old boy who died in a house in Texas that lost during the cold power last week are suing the power company Entergy and the state network operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) for more than $ 100 million . according to reports.
The unlawful death lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County District Court, alleges widespread blackouts contributed to the alleged hypothermic death of the boy, Cristian Pavón Pineda, reports the Houston Chronicle.
The lawsuit also claims that ERCOT and the energy company could have prevented the death if they had properly protected the energy network from severe winter weather, or warned residents of prolonged interruptions. It accuses Entergy Texas and ERCOT of gross negligence.
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‘Despite being aware of the dire weather forecast at least a week in advance, and knowing that the system had not been prepared for more than a decade, ERCOT and Entergy could not take any preliminary action to avert the crisis. and that it was completely unprepared to face the current crisis, ”reads ABC News.
According to the newspaper, ERCOT is an independent network, which means that it is not subject to federal regulations or that it has to overwinter the electrical network.
“Of course, just because it is not legally required does not mean that it is not reasonable conduct,” the lawsuit reads. “ERCOT has failed all Texans, allowing suppliers to fail Texans.”
An Entergy Texas spokesman told the Houston Chronicle that the company could not comment due to the pending lawsuit.
“We are very sad about the loss of life in our community,” the company said.
“This is a tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family,” ERCOT said in a statement. “We have not yet reviewed a pending lawsuit and will respond to it as soon as we do.”
Cristian Pavón Pineda, who emigrated to the US with his family two years ago, was found dead in his bed last week – after spending some time in the snow for the first time in his life. newspaper said.
Maria Pineda speaks on February 18, 2021 in Conroe, Texas. Pineda’s son, Cristian Pavon Pineda (11), died of hypothermia when his teenage years came to a head. (Gustavo Huerta / Houston Chronicle via AP, File)
“It was his” first time (see snow). That’s why he was excited outside, “his mother, Maria Elisa Pineda, said Thursday. Everything was fine. He was happy that day. He was not sick at all. ‘
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The Conroe garage where they lived was lost Monday morning and the family was hanging out together to stay warm while the temperature dropped to single digits, reports said.
The family said the child – who did not respond the next day – froze to death. According to Conroe police, the official cause of death is pending the outcome of an autopsy.
“This is a young man who died without any decisions,” the Pineda family lawyer told ABC News on Sunday.
Last week, the Texas government, Greg Abbott, a Republican, said he was investigating ERCOT amid nationwide eclipses in icy temperatures.
“Far too many Texans are without power and heat for their homes because our state is facing icy temperatures and severe winter weather. This is unacceptable,” Abbott wrote in a statement.
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ERCOT officials defended their preparations and the decision to start forced interruptions on Monday as the network reached a breaking point. The agency said earlier that they were taking drastic action to avoid a catastrophic eclipse across the country.
Conroe is about 65 miles north of Houston.
Associated Press contributed to this report