Top Texas utility regulator ousted as recording emerges of pledges to protect Wall Street
FacebookTwitterEmail
1of2
Power lines are shown near Beltway 8 the Hardy Toll Road following an overnight snowfall Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 in Houston. Temperatures plunged into the teens Monday with light snow and freezing rain. Rolling blackouts throughout the state has cut power to many.Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographerShow MoreShow Less
2of2
PUC Chairman Arthur D AndreaKorey Howell Photography / Texas Public Utility CommissionShow MoreShow Less
For nearly an hour last week, the state’s last surviving utility commissioner, Arthur D’Andrea, was remarkably candid about what he had gleaned from last month’s deadly outage crisis.
5 Min Read
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Texas attorney general on Wednesday said state law allows the utilities regulator to cut billions of dollars from storm-inflated electric bills, an endorsement that came hours after the ouster of the regulator who opposed retroactive cuts.
FILE PHOTO: An electrical substation is seen after winter weather caused electricity blackouts in Houston, Texas, U.S. February 20, 2021. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo
The drive to reverse $4.1 billion in emergency prices gained momentum after a magazine published inflammatory comments by Public Utility Commission Chair Arthur D’Andrea. In a March 9 call with Bank of America analysts and investors, he said he “tipped the scale” to protect utility profits. He also minimized the financial pain caused by storm pricing to municipal power companies.
Credit: Texas Public Utility Commission
Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Public Utility Commission Chair Arthur D Andrea, the only remaining member of the three-seat board that regulates Texas utilities, is resigning from his post, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday night.
Abbott said in a statement that he asked for and accepted D Andrea s resignation and plans to name a replacement in the coming days who will have the responsibility of charting a new and fresh course for the agency. D Andrea s resignation will be effective immediately upon the appointment of a successor, according to a copy of D Andrea s resignation letter that was obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Final member of Public Utilities Commission resigns, leaving board vacant
Chairman Arthur D Andrea submitted his resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday, and it was accepted, Abbott wrote in a news release.
Credit: PUC Author: Jake Harris Updated: 9:25 PM CDT March 16, 2021
AUSTIN, Texas The final member of the board for the Public Utility Commission of Texas has resigned.
Chairman Arthur D Andrea submitted his resignation to Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday, and it was accepted, Abbott wrote in a news release. Tonight, I asked for and accepted the resignation of PUC Commissioner Arthur D’Andrea, Abbott wrote. I will be naming a replacement in the coming days who will have the responsibility of charting a new and fresh course for the agency. Texans deserve to have trust and confidence in the Public Utility Commission, and this action is one of many steps that will be taken to achieve that goal.
The battle over repricing or fixing the error has set up a political battle of Herculean proportions, pitting Patrick against Phelan and now places Gov. Greg Abbott in the spotlight as to what we will do next.
Abbott has agreed with the PUC s only member still remaining, chair Arthur D Andrea, who has testified in committee hearings that he can t reverse the prices.
Abbott penned a letter to Patrick saying only the legislature can fix the issue.
The error stems from prices ERCOT charged for power in the days after a massive winter storm cut the power to millions of Texans. For at least 36 hours, ERCOT kept prices at sky-high levels, instead of reducing them as power came back online, causing billions in overages.