July 31 — The Texas law that deregulated the state’s power market set up three distinct areas: generation and retail sales, both which invite companies to compete for shares of these markets, and distribution, which is controlled by a single utility in each market. The state Public Utility Commission oversees distribution utilities, such as CenterPoint in Houston and Oncor in Dallas, limits the profits they can earn from their monopoly operations and mostly prohibits them from directly participating in the other sectors.
— Houston Chronicle
Is a policy analyst consultant for TCAP, a coalition of political subdivisions in Texas that purchase electricity in the deregulated market for their own governmental use. Because energy costs are typically a significant budget item to our members, TCAP is consistently looking for ways to save our members money, through cost-saving contracts, energy efficiency or demand response programs.