Shelly Botkin’s departure comes a week after the commission’s chair, DeAnn Walker, also stepped down.
Energy
In-depth reporting on oil, gas, renewable power, and policies shaping the future of energy in Texas from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Analysis: After the blackouts, a whiff of the 2022 elections in Texas
A proposed remodeling of the state’s electricity grid from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller might be more than it seems. It reads like a campaign’s position paper.
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Coronavirus in Texas
A Mexican restaurant in Houston is keeping its mask rule. People threatened to call ICE on the staff.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift the statewide mask mandate has not come easily for many businesses that are navigating enforcement of mask rules while facing backlash. “It was just horrific,” said Monica Richards, co-owner of Picos.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Oil and gas interests left to “self-regulate” in aftermath of winter storm as Texas politicians pile on to ERCOT
Politically powerful natural gas production and transportation companies, along with their regulators, appear to have so far escaped the wrath of the governor and the Legislature in the aftermath of the Texas power outages.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Texas will not fix ERCOT’s $16 billion power billing mistake
The Public Utility Commission ignored its independent monitor’s recommendation to retroactively reduce the market price for power for at least part of the week of the winter storm.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
ERCOT overcharged power companies $16 billion for electricity during winter freeze, firm says
An independent market monitor for the Public Utility Commission of Texas wrote in a letter that the power grid operator kept market prices too high for nearly two days after widespread outages ended.
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Energy
Fired ERCOT leader refuses more than $800,000 severance pay in storm aftermath
According to the terms of his employment contract, Bill Magness’ severance pay would have been equivalent to one year of his current base salary.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
CEO of Texas power grid operator terminated in aftermath of winter storm
Bill Magness is the latest official to depart following the winter storm catastrophe.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
U.S. House Oversight Committee investigating operator of Texas’ power grid
A subcommittee chair wrote in a letter to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas that the grid’s failures were “costly” and disproportionately affected low-income communities and communities of color.
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Energy
Gov. Greg Abbott taps new head of Texas utility regulator in wake of power outages
Arthur D’Andrea replaces DeAnn Walker, who resigned earlier this week as chair of the Public Utility Commission. The governor appoints commissioners to lead the PUC, which oversees the state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.