Power lines lead away from the P.H. Robinson generating plant on state Highway 146. The plant was one of about 10 percent of all Texas power plants not operational in July when ERCOT warned rolling blackouts were possible.
Power Failure
The Daily News examines the forces that influence the price of power in Texas. Public Utilities Commission consultants reported that one company could have withheld electricity in summer 2005 — which could artificially increase electricity prices which had already gone up 35 percent during the past year.
Bills aim to curb price of electricity
AUSTIN — The chairmen of committees that oversee Texas' electricity industry proposed sweeping new regulations Wednesday.
February 08, 2007 - News - From staff reports
Lawmakers want to roll back deregulation
Sentiment is building in the Legislature to change the law deregulating the power industry for 85 percent of Texans.
December 25, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Experts: Deregulation not working
Experts agree that Texas' deregulated electricity market isn’t working, but differ on how it should be changed.
December 24, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Lawmaker wants to look at ending deregulation
A Fort Worth Democrat says if prices don’t come down, then the state should go back to the old system.
December 16, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
State issues draft power report
Regulators are poised to ignore some serious concerns in a report on electricity market competition.
December 16, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
TXU, NRG cornering the power market?
In the face of growing demand, the state’s two largest electricity generators plan to add greatly to the power supply.
December 10, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Customers pay twice for power plants
If you’re reading this story, there’s a good chance you’re paying at least an extra $5 dollars a month in your electricity bill.
November 23, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Lawmakers say slow down on coal plants
Twenty-five state representatives have told TCEQ to take more time with permitting the coal plants TXU wants.
November 21, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Does market force fit the electric bill?
Is the state’s deregulation of the electricity industry working? That question ought to be on the agenda for the Legislature’s session that begins in January.
November 17, 2006 - Editorials - By Heber Taylor
Serious concerns remain about deregulation
On Jan. 1, the Texas electricity market will be deregulated to an extent no other state in the nation has been.
November 12, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Utilities get rule change for power plants
State regulators changed the rules in a way that would make it easier for permits for new power plants to be issued.
November 05, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Some electric bills based on estimates
Every month, thousands of Texans receive a power bill based on estimates — not on the actual reading of meters.
November 04, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
PUC waited to start power probe
Did the Public Utility Commission sit on a report containing potentially damaging information about the state’s largest electric utility?
October 29, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
King: Some want re-regulation of power market
Texans are so upset about electricity prices that some lawmakers and others are calling to re-regulate the electricity market, a lawmaker said.
October 29, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Group says Perry-TXU allegation a mistake
Consumer advocate group Public Citizen backs away from its accusation that TXU brokered a deal with the governor.
October 27, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Commission identifies TXU as 'Company C'
The state’s largest power company is suspected of manipulating the electricity market.
October 21, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Why keep electric buyers in the dark?
The Daily News’ present fight with the Texas Public Utility Commission is really the simplest of disagreements.
October 20, 2006 - Editorials - By Heber Taylor
PUC argues to keep ‘Company C’ secret
Newspaper’s attorney says the PUC's refusal to name a suspected market manipulator is an attempt to not embarrass a powerful company.
October 17, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
PUC kept problems secret
Virtually from the instant it was deregulated, the electricity market was badly abused, according to documents on file at the Public Utility Commission.
October 15, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Dems want to know who 'Company C' is
Twenty House Democrats on Friday urged the Public Utility Commission to identify the power company suspected of manipulating the electricity market last year.
October 14, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Name Company C without delay
The Daily News is asking the Texas Attorney General’s office to expedite information about an electricity-market company.
October 11, 2006 - Editorials - By Heber Taylor
Perry calls for power market probe
Texas' governor says he wants anyone who has manipulated the energy market dealt with 'harshly' but says the suspected company's name should be kept secret.
October 11, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
PUC declines to name 'Company C'
The PUC has started proceedings to keep secret the name of a company that may have withheld electricity when demand reached its peak in 2005.
October 10, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
PUC to fight naming suspect company
Regulators want to stay quiet about which company is suspected of energy market manipulation.
October 08, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Critics: Electricity credits fall short
Reliant and TXU offer some customers credits but have been charging far in excess of fuel costs for a year.
October 05, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
State should end its tradition of secrecy
Gov. Rick Perry should tell the Public Utilities Commission to name “Company C.”
October 01, 2006 - Editorials - By Michael A. Smith
TXU says it didn’t manipulate power market
The state’s biggest power provider says a market study critical of its practices was ‘Monday-morning quarterbacking.’
September 28, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
More power concerns surface
A consultant raises doubts about the electricity market, but it’s unclear if the state regulating agency will act.
September 24, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Poor fund needs the eyes of Texas
The legislature has put a fund to help the needy pay their electric bills into limbo, so Texans should watch in case it's used elsewhere.
September 20, 2006 - Editorials - By Michael A. Smith
More consumers turn to wind, solar power
Using alternative energy sources to power homes can result in savings on electricty bills.
September 17, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
AARP asks state to release $256M in bill aid
A quarter-billion dollars sits idle in a state fund set aside to help those who can't afford their power bills as costs keep escalating.
September 17, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
‘Homes of the future’ here today
GALVESTON — The new Evia subdivision builders are employing energy-saving technology on homes with a more historic feel.
September 17, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
Every man a power broker?
Can consumers with larger wind or solar generation systems get paid to send excess electricity back to the grid?
September 17, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
Will state power watchdog have teeth?
The state appoints an independent electricity market monitor whose suggestions it appears to have ignored in the past.
September 03, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
The poor state of energy bill affairs
The state has a $245 million fund to help the poor pay their electricity bills, but it hasn't used the money for its declared purpose.
August 26, 2006 - Editorials - By Michael A. Smith
Have you seen a $940.76 light bill?
Francis Witte of Galveston told us about his July electricity bill. It was $940.76 — for one month.
August 19, 2006 - Editorials - By Heber Taylor
State eases market controls on electricity
A change governing market formulas may lead to higher electricity bills for consumers.
August 13, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
Five years post-deregulation, prices soar
Electricity bills that have doubled or even tripled is the talk of the summer. But wasn't dergulation supposed to mean lower bills?
August 13, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
CenterPoint offers rate reduction deal
CenterPoint Energy has agreed to reduce by $58 million a year what it charges power companies.
August 02, 2006 - News - By Laura Elder
Subsidies fuel push for nuclear energy
Rather than reopening a local plant that sits idle, NRG Energy plans to build two reactors elsewhere in Texas.
July 30, 2006 - News - By Marty Schladen
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