Nearly 600,000 Texans will lose access to a program that prevented electricity shut-offs during the pandemic on Oct. 1
Once the program ends, customers could be on the hook for partial back payments. Full Story
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![Electrical power lines in Austin. March 24, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Funding for rural broadband in Texas is in trouble. The pandemic might save it.
Rural Texans have been clamoring for high-speed internet services for years, and the requirements of a pandemic — work, schools and medicine — have raised the stakes. But a state fund that helps provide those services is in financial trouble. Full Story
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![A colonia, unincorporated neighborhoods that lack basic services such as street lights, proper drainage, paved roads or wa...]()
Credit: Verónica G. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas businesses reopen, a short-lived coronavirus safety net is dismantled
Evictions and debt collections have resumed, child care subsidies will be discontinued and those who are out of work will again have to prove they are searching for a job in order to receive unemployment benefits. Full Story
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![The Central Texas Food Bank hosts a food drive at the Toney Burger Activity Center in Austin on April 30, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas utility regulators have programs to prevent shutoffs during the pandemic. But some Texans are falling through the cracks.
Although some counties have moratoriums on disconnections, in most of the state customers need to apply for the benefit. Full Story
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![Carly Eaves poses for a portrait at her parent's home on April 15,]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Texas regulators vote to ban residential utility shut-offs during pandemic while buoying companies
The Texas Public Utility Commission approved an order Thursday that would ban disconnections of water and power service for Texans financially impacted by COVID-19 and put them on deferred payment plans. But advocates and experts say the real winner might be utility providers. Full Story
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![Credit card debt illustration.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Fearing outages, Texas regulators consider controversial plan to boost power generation
The Public Utility Commission is considering measures to ensure Texans don't lose power in the hot summer months. A plan generators are pushing could cost $4 billion — and lead to higher electric bills. Full Story
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![Transmission lines near Sweetwater that will connect windy regions of the state to major population centers.]()
Credit: Axel Gerdau -
Electricity complaints filed by Texans reach three-year high, report says
Despite showing an uptick in electricity complaints this year, a report released by the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power also shows that complaints and inquiries have generally decreased over the past decade. Full Story
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![Electricity transmission lines in Houston.]()
Credit: Dave Fehling NPR StateImpact / KUHF Houston Public Radio -
Warren Buffett unveils deal to buy big piece of Texas electric grid
Warren Buffet is making a play for Texas’ largest electric transmission utility. Berkshire Hathaway, his multinational conglomerate, has unveiled a deal to buy Oncor. Full Story
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![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
Credit: White House -
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim. Full Story
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![Champion Baptist Church in Roscoe, west of Abilene, is among several West Texas churches grappling with high power line pr...]()
Credit: Pastor Bruce Parsons -
Texas Public Utility Commission Chairman Nelson to retire
Chairman Donna Nelson announced Thursday that she will retire from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, ending a nine-year tenure. Full Story
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![Chairman of Texas Public Utility Commission, Donna Nelson, during a hearing on Jan. 11, 2016.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Donations pour in for North Texan who couldn't afford heat
Mary Garcia, an Arlington woman who was struggling to keep her lights on after the demise of Lite-Up Texas, said she is overwhelmed by the help she has received from those who read her story. Full Story
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![Mary Garcia at her home in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 22, 2016.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
Poor Texans left in dark as state electricity aid program ends
Low-income Texans are struggling to come to grips with the demise of a longstanding program that helped them pay their electricity bills. Full Story
![Mary Garcia at her home in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 22, 2016.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill for The Texas Tribune -
1 energy crisis, 2 futures: How Denmark and Texas answered a challenge
Facing the Arab oil embargo of the 1970s, Denmark shifted from fossil fuels. Texas responded differently. Here's a look at how things went for each. Full Story
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![A wind farm generates electricity off the coast of Copenhagen. Wind energy accounted for 42 percent of Denmark's generatio...]()
Credit: Courtesy C.G.P. Grey -
Texas Rep Wants to Limit His Industry's Liability For Busting Pipes
State Rep. Cecil Bell, a private contractor, says he has a plan to curb costly and sometimes dangerous strikes to underground pipelines during construction: make sure whoever is responsible pays to fix them. Full Story
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![Water pipeline crew members prepare for the laying of a section of the 60-mile-long chain running near Eden, Texas, in 2012.]()
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Texas Stops Helping Poor Families Pay Their Electric Bills
Lite-Up Texas, a program that offered electricity discounts to hundreds of thousands of poor Texas families over the years, has run out of money. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
NextEra Would Own Oncor in $18.4 Billion Deal
Florida-based NextEra Energy has unveiled an $18.4 billion deal to buy Oncor, Texas' largest electric transmission company. Full Story
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Texas Regulator Wants to Make Shopping for Electricity Easier
Donna Nelson, who chairs the Texas Public Utility Commission, is trying to crack down on deceptive electricity providers and make it easier for Texans to shop for electricity. Full Story
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![Texas Public Utility Commissioner, Donna Nelson on Jan. 11, 2016]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Report: Texans Finding Better Deals on the Electricity Market
Texans who shopped for electricity in 2014 paid more on average than folks who only had one power option — but the difference was smaller than in years past. Full Story
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Credit: Dan Atrill -
In Texas, Market Forces Driving Shift From Coal, Study Says
Texans are on pace to rely more heavily on natural gas, wind and solar energy to power their lives in the coming decades, according to an analysis commissioned by the Texas Clean Energy Coalition. Full Story
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![Grid technicians monitor screens at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' state-of-the-art backup control center in B...]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Energy Future Holdings Pitches New Plan To End Epic Bankruptcy
Energy Future Holdings, Texas’ largest power company, is going back to the drawing board in its efforts to emerge from one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in American history. Full Story
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