Why Aren’t Texas Gas Utility Bills Lower?

Why Aren’t Texas Gas Utility Bills Lower?

Natural gas commodity prices are half what they were in 2004. And yet, average home gas bills haven’t budged. In fact, average gas utility bills in Texas were slightly higher in 2015 than they were in 2004 — despite a dramatic drop in the cost of natural gas over that...
Critics: Alternative Rate-Making Could Increase Costs

Critics: Alternative Rate-Making Could Increase Costs

AUSTIN — Although supported by utility monopolies, overhauling the state’s procedures for setting home electric rates would lead to higher prices for costumers, more paperwork for regulators and cause big headaches for retail electric providers. Those were some...
ERCOT Operator Error Crashes Key Software

ERCOT Operator Error Crashes Key Software

A crucial ERCOT technical failure had engineers scrambling last month and led to widespread confusion among power traders — although grid officials say system reliability was never endangered. ERCOT, or the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, oversees the state’s...
ERCOT Panel Rejects Potentially Costly Change

ERCOT Panel Rejects Potentially Costly Change

Proposed rule changes for the state’s power grid — changes that some feared would lead to higher wholesale electric prices around Houston — have been rejected by a key stakeholder panel at ERCOT. Had it received the panel’s endorsement, the proposals would have...