By: L.M. Sixel | The number of electricity complaints and concerns lodged with Texas regulators during the past year stands hit new three-year high, reversing a generally downward trend in complaints about electricity service, according to a new study. Texans
Texas ERCOT poses challenges for wind project developers
By: Richard A. Kessler | Texas ERCOT continues to add wind power capacity faster than any electricity market in the US but for project developers, finding and making solid returns is a growing challenge in a changing and competitive environment
3 reasons Texas’ electric grid survived a summer that pushed its limits
By: Kim Rainwater | As the hot summer approached, state leaders expressed concern about potential blackouts and brownouts. Yet, thoughtful planning, a functional electricity market, and clean energy helped ensure the lights stayed on. Power outage concerns Hotter temperatures and
Solar-plus-storage likely the ‘next big thing’ in ERCOT: expert
By: Mark Watson | Austin, Texas — Solar energy — increasingly paired with battery storage — is likely to be the “next big thing” in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, attendees of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance annual
Oncor acquires West Texas power lines in $1.3 billion deal with Hunt family
By: Conor Shine | Dallas-based electricity distributor Oncor plans to bulk up its Texas transmission network with a $1.3 billion acquisition of the Hunt family-owned InfraREIT, the companies announced Thursday. The deal will give Oncor and its majority owner, San
Oncor customers targeted by impostors using robocalls to fish for credit card numbers
By: Sara Magalio | Oncor Electric Delivery is warning customers in the Dallas area about a scam using robocalls to fish for credit card numbers and threaten to cut off electricity service. According to the utility company, customers have received recorded
AEP to shut down North Texas coal-fired power plant
By: Kallanish Energy | American Electric Power announced last week that it will shut down its coal-fired Oklaunion Power Station by September 2020, Kallanish Energy reports. The 690-megawatt plant in Vernon, Texas, is unable to compete with cheaper electricity from
As utilities pass along tax savings, consumers may miss out
By: L.M. Sixel | State regulators have forced utilities in Texas to pass along $333 million in federal tax savings by cutting their electric distribution rates, but consumers may never see a dime of that money. The reason is the
Regulators crack down on power companies that don’t offer same deals to English, Spanish speakers
By: L.M. Sixel | State regulators put retail electricity providers on notice Friday that if they don’t offer the same electricity plans to their Spanish-speaking customers as they do to their English-speaking ones, the Public Utility Commission will yank them
Electricity price is important when shopping but so is timing
By: L.M. Sixel | The old saying that timing is everything also applies to buying electricity. Many consumers choose the cheapest electricity plan they can find and typically sign up for a one-year contract. But a one-year contract may not