Yesterday June 23 2009 State Representative
Sylvester Turner of Houston Texas filed a petition asking the Texas Public Utility Commission (
PUC) to adopt an emergency rule to better protect customers in the deregulated electricity market from disconnection during the sometimes dangerously hot Texas summer months. The petition request the PUC to establish basic market wide protections requiring utility companies to keep the power on if their customers fall behind on their bills but set up proper payment plans and honor them. The proposed rule also establishes a heat threshold protection disallowing any electricity disconnections in an area when the heat index will reach or exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
The rule encourages customers to make payments and keep the power on so that their households can keep safe in the extremely hot Texas summer; but it also allows for some much needed flexibility in dealing with what is often for consumers much higher summer electricity bills. Industry is not in the business of turning the power off and Im not seeking to give electricity away. This is a win - win situation for consumers and the electric industry said Representative Turner.
Representative Turner has been a long time advocate for consumer protections in the deregulated electricity market. This proposed rule is closely modeled after legislation that he and others colleagues attempted to pass during the 81st Legislative Session. The language was voted out of the State Affairs Committee of the Texas House chaired by Representative Burt Solomons of Carrollton by an 11 - 2 vote. It was supported by many consumer advocacy groups and some members of the electric utility industry. The bill was placed on General State Calendars and later died on a Point of Order with no House debate on the merits.
Much of Texas is currently experiencing triple digit temperatures and no relief is in sight. We are seeking to establish some basic protections for the safety and welfare of consumers. We can not afford to lose lives simply because someone fell behind on their electricity bill said Turner. While Representative Turner has started gathering the support of his colleagues in both chambers of the Texas House he felt an urgency to move forward and file the petition with an intention to add the names of those colleagues who support him at a later date. Summer is here and record temperatures are being set across the State we can not afford to take this dire situation lightly. That is why I filed the petition so quickly and that is why I strongly urge the Commissioners at the PUC to set an emergency meeting and take up the issue immediately stated Turner.
(PUC Docket No. 37142)
Yesterday June 23 2009 State Representative Sylvester Turner of Houston Texas filed a petition asking the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) to adopt an emergency rule to better protect customers in the deregulated electricity market from disconnection during the sometimes dangerously hot Texas summer months. The petition request the PUC to establish basic market wide protections requiring utility companies to keep the power on if their customers fall behind on their bills but set up proper payment plans and honor them. The proposed rule also establishes a heat threshold protection disallowing any electricity disconnections in an area when the heat index will reach or exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit.
The rule encourages customers to make payments and keep the power on so that their households can keep safe in the extremely hot Texas summer; but it also allows for some much needed flexibility in dealing with what is often for consumers much higher summer electricity bills. Industry is not in the business of turning the power off and Im not seeking to give electricity away. This is a win - win situation for consumers and the electric industry said Representative Turner.
Representative Turner has been a long time advocate for consumer protections in the deregulated electricity market. This proposed rule is closely modeled after legislation that he and others colleagues attempted to pass during the 81st Legislative Session. The language was voted out of the State Affairs Committee of the Texas House chaired by Representative Burt Solomons of Carrollton by an 11 - 2 vote. It was supported by many consumer advocacy groups and some members of the electric utility industry. The bill was placed on General State Calendars and later died on a Point of Order with no House debate on the merits.
Much of Texas is currently experiencing triple digit temperatures and no relief is in sight. We are seeking to establish some basic protections for the safety and welfare of consumers. We can not afford to lose lives simply because someone fell behind on their electricity bill said Turner. While Representative Turner has started gathering the support of his colleagues in both chambers of the Texas House he felt an urgency to move forward and file the petition with an intention to add the names of those colleagues who support him at a later date. Summer is here and record temperatures are being set across the State we can not afford to take this dire situation lightly. That is why I filed the petition so quickly and that is why I strongly urge the Commissioners at the PUC to set an emergency meeting and take up the issue immediately stated Turner.
(PUC Docket No. 37142)
