AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Texas' Public Utility Commission took action Sunday in an emergency open meeting aimed at protecting the state's electricity customers as state leaders work towards solutions related to last week's extreme winter weather and the effect on wholesale electric rates.
In an emergency order issued Sunday, the PUC ordered an immediate suspension of disconnections for non-payment until further notice. The agency also directed retail electric providers to continue offering deferred payment plans to customers upon request, a requirement that has been in place since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PUC orders apply to customers of investor-owned utilities across the state, including Oncor, AEP, CenterPoint, and TNMP. The orders do not apply to municipally owned utilities or electric cooperatives across the state, where the PUC does not have jurisdiction over billing issues.
"Our absolute top priority as a commission and a state is protecting electricity customers from the devastating effects of a storm that already affected their delivery of power," PUC Chairman DeAnn Walker said in a statement. "The order and directives are intended to be temporary, likely through the end of this week, to address the potential financial impacts that are especially challenging during this extremely difficult time."
A second order was aimed at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), calling on ERCOT officials to exercise discretion under ERCOT's existing protocols to deviate from deadlines and timing related to settlements, collateral obligations, and invoice payments - which could lead to further market instability - while leaders in the state consider solutions to the financial challenges caused by the grid event.
