Texas Power Market Changes Include Little Talk of Rates
Texas electricity regulators last week approved a major change in the power markets. In a quick, unanimous vote, they doubled the amount that wholesale power prices could rise.
That move, and others that are being contemplated to fix the strained Texas power market, will almost certainly have a knock-on effect on the monthly power bills of ordinary Texans. But there has been little discussion or study of the impact on ratepayers. Instead, regulators have focused almost exclusively on making sure that the grid provides reliable electricity and avoids blackouts.
Keeping the lights on and cheap power are, of course, important ...
Comments (6)
Elmo
Thanks David SIbley. You lined your pockets and now we all wil be paying out the nose
Rudy Gonzales
Building power plants does cost money and those building power plants the past twelve years have known about the EPA's requirements and regulations. Texas' Governor and Legislature have known about these same rules and regulations and still allowed the newest plants to be built for coal fired production. There are multiple plants sitting idle because they do not meet the specifications set forth in EPA rulings and regulations.
The Texas Legislature have turned their nose up at federal regulation of power plant production unit rules and regulation and now the people will be called on to suffer higher electrical costs while regulatory agencies look the other way to appease well placed special interests. Major changes in the power markets made by regulators have not been in the interest of the Texas residents.
This is what happens when one party rules and no other discussion is allowed or requested. Power production is based on the price of natural gas and natural gas prices are down. But because the Texas Governor and Legislature are in the pockets of coal fired electrical power production plants, Texans will bear the brunt of expenses for electricity. It time to oust the special interests controlled Governor and legislature.
The PUC(Public Utility Commission) have failed grossly in their fiduciary responsibility for the people of Texas! Let me re-state that! The PUC(Public Utility Commission) have failed grossly in their fiduciary responsibility for the people of Texas! Major changes must be made to oust those responsible for allowing coal fired plants to be built, not forcing current power plant companies to convert to gas powered electrical energy production and coddling special interests for their money and gifts to overseeing commissions or agencies.
printzapper
Sounds like the alarm was raised to manipulate the market. I really believe "PUC" is a misnomer. Actually it has no interest at all in the public other than to feed them a line of pure, grade A, organic fertilizer (that doesn't come from cows), to keep the less intelligent ones mollified so the big energy companies can ransack the till. They ought to have same number of reps for the public interest as they do for the energy companies and corporations, as the latter two are fairly much (at least in Texas) one and the same.
David Spratt
Obama told everybody four years ago,,,," Under my plan electricity rates will necessarily skyrocket."
That was four years ago ,,,, and you are surprised they are going up?
Over the last 20 years or so emissions have been reduced 90%,,,, What makes anyone think the environmentalists will ever be satisfied if they were reduced further? That is what is driving the cost up.
Looks like half the country is going to vote for more government control and regulation,,, Vote liberal and you can pay more for everything.
Viola Perry
How is it that Germany can cap their electricity rate of 3.5 cents per kwh. Let us get their obviously more competent managers over here, but then again they are not paid 65 million dollars to go away like the last TXU CEO.
sssdddd
Fuck the Rate payers (low class slime balls). Only industrial clients deserve massive discounts.