Workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021, during the winter storm that left many Texans without power. State lawmakers are close to approving billions of dollars in financing to offset the storm’s costs to companies. Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune
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Justin Aguilar’s bingo halls in Corpus Christi lost a week of business and thousands of dollars during February’s deadly winter storm. That was devastating enough.
But that loss of income is dwarfed by what the business now owes because of the Texas power crisis: There’s a $120,000 electricity bill waiting to be paid.
After debating theology, Senate OKs gender-care ban for young Texans usatoday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from usatoday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Texas utility oversight and reform legislation one step closer to governor’s desk
Texas utility oversight and reform legislation one step closer to governor’s desk
A House committee approved several grid reform bills Friday, including a measure that would reform the makeup of the PUC and ERCOT’s board of directors.
Arthur D Andrea, former chairman of the Public Utility Commission, was one of the commission s three members, all whom were forced to resign this spring after February s energy grid crisis. Friday, legislation advanced that would increase oversight and accountability for utilities agencies and increase the size of the commission from three members to five.(Courtesy of Public Utility Commission of Texas)
Gov. Greg Abbott declared reform of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to be an emergency legislative item Feb. 16 and called on the Legislature to investigate the council. ERCOT, which was largely criticized for its role in the February storm, manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers and represents about 90% of the state’s electric load, according to the electric nonprofit.
The first of the major bills is Senate Bill 3, authored by Schwertner. It adds winterization requirements to energy-generating infrastructure with a $1 million fine per day, he said. Municipal-owned utilities, such as in Georgetown or Austin, and energy companies, such as Pedernales Electric Cooperative or Oncor Electric Delivery, would not be treated differently.