Thread by @douglewinenergy

As #Texas assesses the damage from last week, and water + power flow again, there's going to be a lot going on this week. It's important the public stay engaged. Many are banking on you tuning out. Don't.

Here's what to watch for. A thread.

#txlege #txenergy

1/ Watch for announcements from retail electric providers (REPs) like this one from @JustEnergyUS which warns it may go under. Who will buy them for pennies on the dollar? Private equity? @nrgenergy or @VistraCorp? (btw, follow @JavierBlas)

https://twitter.com/JavierBlas/status/1363841569950949380?s=20

2/ And what happens to their customers? They'll go to "Providers of Last Resort" program dominated by @nrgenergy and @VistraCorp. They're allowed to charge high prices as POLR. Hopefully, they won't do that. (Other REPs can apply by 3 today) Eyes open 👀

tpr.org/texas/2021-02-…

3/ Watch for word from city owned utilities and electric co-ops. Mine, @PedernalesCoop has been quiet. @cpsenergy said they may need to spread the costs from this out over 10 years (!). Their supposedly reliable coal plant, JK Spruce, went offline early.

https://twitter.com/cpsenergy/status/1362794151583109121?s=20

4/ Watch for the earnings calls for @nrgenergy this Thursday and @VistraCorp on Friday. Together, they own about 1/2 the generation in @ERCOT_ISO and 75% of the retail market. Did their plants run? Do investors expect a windfall and market consolidation when other retailers fail?

5/ The @PUCTX will have more emergency mtgs this week, appropriate given it's an emergency. Yesterday, they took action to, at least temporarily, prevent bills from this catastrophe coming due, by customers or the companies/co-ops/etc that serve them.

https://twitter.com/BPBartholomew/status/1363177034030194691?s=20

6/ #TxLege will have hearings: both Thurs AM. It's absurd and disappointing to have them on the same day. They should stagger them.

I'm looking for the legislators that ask good questions instead of engage in political theater.

You can submit comment comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c450

7/ Also, I'm watching for the witness lists. Is it all industry or do they invite energy experts like @cohan_ds @MichaelEWebber @JesseJenkins @emilygrubert @leahstokes @DrBobBullard @KHayhoe @joshdr83 and more. They need to have several of these folks to get an accurate picture

8/ Finally, I'm watching Congress and @FERC. It is often said Texas is not under federal jurisdiction. True, for its market regulating intrastate trading; NOT true for reliability. FERC has that authority already. @RichGlickFERC spoke on this last Thursday utilitydive.com/news/congress-…

9/ And Democrats in DC will likely hold hearings, not likely this week but soon. And they may call all sorts of witnesses from Texas. @RepVeasey @RepFletcher and other @EnergyCommerce members sent questions to @GovAbbott about what happened.

https://twitter.com/EnergyCommerce/status/1362871789106397184?s=20

10/ And finally, how does the discussion around extreme weather and climate change play out? All elected officials should acknowledge weather is getting more extreme and weird and begin reducing emissions and adapting. This is literally life and death. cnn.com/videos/tv/2021…

11/ Note that 17 Texas House member kicked off the first ever @TXClimateCaucus before this crisis. Great leadership from @ErinForYall @GinaForAustin @RafaelAnchia @ronereynolds @jasminefor100 and more. And hopefully more join them soon! texastribune.org/2021/02/10/tex…

12/ This has been a really hard week for almost all of us in TX. More than anything, I'm grateful for my neighbors who helped me in more ways than I can name. Disasters, if they don't kill you, bring you closer to people.

Texans are good. Clear eyes, full hearts. #texasforever

13/ We Texans also need to do some soul searching.

Is less government always a good thing?

Is our isolation and Texas exceptionalism hurting us?

Does electing leaders who don't follow science causing unnecessary suffering?

Are we ready for the next disaster?

14/ What is paramount here is that people stay involved. The solutions are there but all of them require public pressure. Stay informed. Attend town halls. Ask lots of questions.

We've all got to be part of this. The challenges from #climatechange can be met. #Actonclimate