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Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
Summary by The Piney Point Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Alexa St. John, Associated Press , KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC)
· July 22, 2026
· 5 min read
Winter Storm Uri, the multiday freeze that slammed Texas in February 2021 and pummeled the state's power grid, has been on Kenneth Kovar's mind ever since. Though the resident of New Braunfels, northeast of San Antonio, didn't lose power at the time, he wasn't able to run his septic tank — it is ...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Piney Point Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Alexa St. John, Associated Press, KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 22, 2026 Indexed here Jul 22, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway So when Kovar, 64, bought a Ford F-150 last fall, his hope was to be better prepared for any new crisis.
Why this matters in The Piney Point
For residents of Piney Point Village , the concept of using vehicles as backup power sources may resonate deeply, given the community's experience with power outages during severe weather events. As Harris County continues to grow and the demand on the grid increases, innovative solutions like Ford's setup could provide a sense of security for homeowners. The ability to plug a vehicle directly into an electric meter to power parts of a home during an outage could be particularly appealing in areas where residents may have limited access to traditional backup power sources. As automakers like Ford explore the home energy business, it will be interesting to see how this technology is adopted in local communities and whether it becomes a viable option for residents looking to safeguard against power outages. The potential for vehicles to support electrical grid resiliency could also have broader implications for the region's infrastructure and energy management.
About this story
Original reporting by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . The Piney Point surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 22, 2026 ·
Source: KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) ·
Reading time: 5 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Winter Storm Uri, the multiday freeze that slammed Texas in February 2021 and pummeled the state's power grid, has been on Kenneth Kovar's mind ever since. Though the resident of New Braunfels, northeast of San Antonio, didn't lose power at the time, he wasn't able to run his septic tank — it is ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC) and curated for The Piney Point readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Alexa St. John, Associated Press at KPRC 2 / Click2Houston (NBC). To learn more about how The Piney Point selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Piney Point, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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