Sunset
The PUC, Utility Disconnections, and the Sunset Process
VIDEO: See the exchange between the PUC commissioners and Representative Turner
On June 30th, Texas Impact highlighted the efforts of Representative Sylvester Turner to petition the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for a moratorium on disconnecting the service of people who cannot pay their bills in full this summer. Representative Turner’s argument, one that was supported by Texas Impact, was that many Texans are finding themselves facing financial hardship in the midst of the current economic recession just as temperatures continue to hit record highs. The combination of the heat and the recession has created a dangerous situation for many low income and elderly Texans.
The issue and the way it was handled bring up larger questions about the PUC and its functions. The PUC is a vastly important entity in light of the fact that Texas both consumes and produces more energy than any other state, and the statewide per capita residential energy consumption rates are “significantly higher than the national average”. In this case, the commissioners of the PUC decided against granting Representative Turner’s motion, and he accused them of reaching that decision before hearing any testimony. When the PUC is examined under the sunset process next session, this issue—along with the commissioners' decision-making process, the effects of deregulation, and our state's energy sources—should be part of an in-depth discussion of how the PUC functions and how Texas' energy future can be improved.
