3 Min Read HOUSTON, March 3 (Reuters) - Eight energy companies have failed to pay nearly $1 billion for power and services during February’s deadly power blackout in Texas, the state’s grid operator said this week, and the costs are likely to fall on consumers. A winter-storm surge in demand saddled the companies that sell, transmit and generate electricity in the state with about $47 billion in costs as fuel prices soared. Texas consumers will see higher prices as the unpaid fees are passed along to remaining providers. Power grid operator Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) last week said grid users it did not identify had failed to pay $2.46 billion due. ERCOT identified eight companies that had failed to pay a total $930,000 this week, including Brazos Electric Power Cooperative.