Platts: Texas utility regulators may allow power market to eliminate unsecured credit

Sept. 12 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas may no longer allow market participants to use unsecured credit for transactions, if the Public Utility Commission of Texas on Sept. 15 approves a rule change previously accepted by the ERCOT Board of Directors.

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CBS DFW: Atmos warns of higher gas prices heading into winter

Sept. 16 — Atmos has already sent an email warning of more price hikes in the months ahead.

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Austin American-Statesman (Commentary): Austin Energy wants to raise rates, but its math raises questions

Sept. 18 — Austin Energy emphasizes the proposed rate hike is not about the winter freeze, but about the fact that the current rates no longer cover the day-to-day costs of delivering electricity. As more buildings become energy efficient, people are using and paying for less electricity, but the utility’s costs to provide power continue to rise.

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Austin Monitor: Impartial examiner report backs up Austin Energy base rate proposal, but critics aren’t giving up

Sept. 19 — “Since Austin Energy’s last ratemaking test year, prices measured monthly by the consumer price index for urban consumers, fuels and utilities have increased 16.5 percent while rates have remained unchanged,” Austin Energy attorney Thomas Brocato said. “This year alone, overall inflation has been above 8 percent within the city, and Austin Energy is not immune to these impacts.”

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San Antonio Express-News: Texans suffer more power outages than residents of any other state

Sept. 19 — Texans have experienced more major power outages in the past 20 years than residents of any other state, a new report shows, and the blackouts have become more frequent amid increasingly extreme weather in recent years.

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EnergyWire: Grid nightmare haunts Texas governor’s race

Sept. 19 — The big question — besides whether the underdog Democrat can win — is if O’Rourke or Abbott could help drive a sweeping Texas grid overhaul. Experts suggest it’s possible with some determination, although the governor’s direct power is somewhat limited.

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Huntsville Item: ERCOT looks to create ‘gas desk,’ industry leaders remain skeptical

Sept. 15 — The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, operates the state’s electrical grid. Currently, it operates a handful of “desks” that gather and manage basic information on various sectors, such as transmission or renewables. In doing so, the state regulatory body is able to keep tabs on available energy at any given time.

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Reuters: Brazos Electric gets initial go-ahead for $1.4 billion energy bill settlement

Sept. 13 — A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Tuesday allowed the largest power cooperative in Texas to begin soliciting votes on a bankruptcy restructuring proposal that includes a $1.4 billion payment to end a dispute over energy price hikes during a severe 2021 winter storm that left millions of Texans without power for days.

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Austin American-Statesman: Texas natural gas sector balks at potential new oversight aimed at boosting grid

Sept. 13 — State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, said during a legislative hearing Tuesday that the prospect of a so-called “gas desk” to provide operators of the power grid with insight into real-time operational information regarding the natural gas sector is viewed by many industry players as an unwarranted intrusion into private enterprise.

 

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