Thread by @douglewinenergy

SB 7, the biggest grid bill of the session, is scheduled to be up next after the current bill. I'll live tweet about it when it starts. Check out the Texas Energy and Power Newsletter about what to look for in today's debates linked in the tweet below. #txlege #energytwitter 1/

https://twitter.com/douglewinenergy/status/1660730696464322577

Chairman Hunter says let's talk about #SB7, the lobby annuity bill. Points to the gallery and says its the "owner box" up there and it "should be down here," pointing to the gallery. He says it's about, like the Pink Floyd song, "Money."

And so it begins. Buckle up. #txlege

Hunter says the bottom line of this bill "What's the cost to the taxpayer." He says generators don't want anything but "an open check book."

Yep.

He says he "put a billion dollar limit in here." Hunter says he keeps asking what will it cost? "They can't tell me."

He says this bill is about one thing: the billion dollar cap "and my opposition doesn't want it."

He says if you vote to remove the cap it will raise the cost "$9-$15 billion" per year... "shoulda called this the sugar daddy bill. "

That's right. Not a great vote. #txlege

He says when you look at the bill there's all sorts of charges. now it should say "PCM Sugar daddy charge." He says he's fine with going forward with PCM but it needs the cap.

Chairman @toddahunter is fired up. #txenergy
tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.ph…

He also says he is "offended by the end runs around me" by the industry. Says one of the had to retract because they were wrong. Chair Hunter says he's sick of the lack of respect for the House. He says "I want the cap. I want to protect the consumer."

Says I can't believe I have @cyrustx @TexasSierraClub and Todd Staples of @TXOGA together on this bill.

Says I had to read the bill again to make sure I was for it!

Audible laughter in the chamber. #txlege #energytwitter

The PUC's constituency is the generators and @aectnet.

Chair Hunter says his constituency is his district, the consumer, and you, the other members of the House.

"I'm for the consumer" he says. He's been consistent on this through the session. #txenergy

Speaker says if you didn't go to church yesterday, you just went now. @toddahunter preaching! #txlege

Rep. @ChrisGTurner raises a point of order. He has been outspoken for rasing the cap and possibly wants to kill the bill to allow the Governor and PUCT to shovel billions of ratepayer dollars to generators. Great. #txlege

Catch up on my writing about this bill and others ain the Texas Enegy and Power Newsletter. douglewin.substack.com #txlege #energytwitter

Here's the one I wrote Thursday on the misguided efforts to remove the cost cap.

Rare to see @TXOGA , @AARPTX , @TexasSierraClub , @TXConsumer , @TXManufacturers, and @EDFtx aligned but a cap to protect consumers is important. #txlege
douglewin.substack.com/p/an-unmitigat…

If this Point of Order is sustained, expect the Senate to slap the cap -- or to outright ban the PCM -- in the @PUCTX Sunset bill. Would serve the PUC and generators right to have the whole thing killed if $1 billion in net costs isn't enough for them. #txlege

Policymakers and Texans to generators:
How much is this going to cost?

Generators:

#txlege

Point of Order is not sustained.

@RepPennyMShaw introduces an amendment to increase the cap to $1.5 billion. She says it's about "consumers at the end of the day." Huh. Adding $500 million in cost is pro-consumer?
capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/am…

She says she has the utmost respect for Hunter but that he has "his marching voters from whoever." Doesn't sound super respectful imo.

The amendment fails 96-46. #txlege

On the substance, folks, the cap is $1 billion net cost. The PUC study by E3 said the net cost would be $460 million. This is more than two times the amount. should be plenty of room to try out the PCM with some honest to goodness guard rails to protect consumers.

So Texas will soon have a capacity market but with significant consumer protection. Not the best outcome but not the worst either.

@ErinForYall introduces an amendment which was a bill that passed the House, to establish an Energy Efficiency Council which will help improve reliability and increase the survivability of homes. She withdraws the amendment out of respect for @toddahunter
capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/am…

@ChrisGTurner speaks against the bill. This whole discussion is so frustrating. #txlege is, in fact, not doing the things we need to increase reliability. I wish they'd all take some time and read the 28 recommendations here:
ferc.gov/media/february…

To increase reliability you need to winterize gas supply, power plants, and homes and buildings.

Giving more money to generators isn't the answer. The PCM isn't the answer at all. But an uncapped PCM won't fix it and would gouge customers. #txenergy #energytwitter

@ChrisGTurner says opponents of the PCM don't have better options.

Uh, there are dozens of better answers. I write about them often.

But none of those are favored by the generators. #txlege