Thread by @douglewinenergy

#hb4492 in the Senate.

@RolandForTexas asks Chairman Hancock for a commitment to pursue a ratepayer assistance program. He commits. Bill passes 26-5.

Patrick says he wants this on the special session call.

#TxLege #txenergy

https://twitter.com/douglewinenergy/status/1399207334551896065

Patrick says he will only work on these things if we're helping ratepayers. Great.

He's indignant about House not taking ratepayer assistance program which was only brought up in the last few days. It's been 100 days since the storm. Where was this proposal in April/early May?

It makes sense to help ratepayers. The Senate had #SB243 to increase #energyefficiency programs which helps customers to save money AND make their homes more resilient. Never got out of committee. The House had #HB3460, the Power Act, to give direct payments to Texans

#txlege

No one in the Senate picked it up. No one attempted to amend that onto a bill. There will bills filed in the House and Senate to re-establish the System Benefit Fund, direct assistance to customers. Never had a hearing. Why wait till the last minute?

#txenergy

I hope this is sincere and I hope there is real movement at #txlege for ratepayer assistance. We're all going to pay the storm, beyond what we already did. More if you're a gas customer. More if you're in Brazos Co-op territory. And bigger % of income if you're struggling.

this should be a focus going forward but this proposal was brought up in the 11th hour with no scrutiny or anyone outside of a few even understanding what it was. The public only knows the details because it was mistakenly included in a side-by-side.

If you want to help the public, maybe, you know, include the public.

PUCT meeting to possibly end moratorium on cut-offs for electric customers struggling to pay bills happens Thursday. Maybe some elected officials will weigh in on behalf of struggling consumers.