UPDATED: The Texas Public Utility Commission on Friday unanimously rejected a petition to overturn its “small fish, swim free” rule, which gives small electricity generators an absolute defense against allegations of market power abuse.
Texas Public Utility Commission
Posted in
Energy
Rancher’s Complaint May Spur New Power Line Rules
A North Texas rancher’s protest of a power line that splits his land — one he says was built in the wrong place — could prompt new rules addressing when a transmission company can tweak a line’s route after it is approved.
Posted in
Economy
Consumer Advocates Scrutinize Prepaid Electricity Plans
Consumer advocates fear prepaid electricity plans could leave low-income Texans vulnerable to hidden fees and sudden electricity shutoffs. But companies that offer the plans say there is great consumer demand for them.
Posted in
Energy
Landowners, Utilities Keep Eye on Rancher’s Bid to Move Power Line
UPDATED: The Texas Public Utility Commission on Friday heard oral arguments in the case of a Wise County rancher protesting a power line that he says was built in the wrong place on his property. The commission is poised to vote on the line’s fate on May 30.
Posted in
Energy
In Power Line Dispute, Rancher Questions Utilities’ Wiggle Room
After landowners sign off on power line routes, can transmission companies install them somewhere else? The Public Utility Commission is set to consider a rancher’s complaint.
Posted in
Energy
ERCOT: Growth in Texas Energy Demand Slows
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says the state’s peak power demand is growing more slowly than previously thought, buying time for regulators hoping to bolster reliability on the electric grid.
Posted in
Economy
In Grid Debate, New Info Doesn’t Sway Opinions
Should Texas overhaul its electricity market? And if so, how much would it cost? A highly anticipated report has shed some light on those questions amid an increasingly contentious debate.
Posted in
Economy
Focus of Grid Debate Has Been on Producers, but What About Consumers?
As the utilities and big energy users spar in Austin over how to best encourage the building of power plants, another important issue that is getting less public attention is about how Texas can curb its energy use.
Posted in
Energy
Davis Expresses Concerns on Energy Market Proposal
State Sen. Wendy Davis has joined a chorus of lawmakers who are urging the Public Utility Commission of Texas to put the brakes on efforts to transform the state’s wholesale electricity market.
Posted in
Energy
On Capacity Market Decision, Lawmakers Question PUC’s Authority
At a contentious hearing on Monday, lawmakers expressed skepticism about transforming Texas’ wholesale energy market in an attempt to ensure the long-term reliability of the state’s electric grid.
