WFAA: Public Utility Commission of Texas adopts new water disconnection rule amid cold weather emergencies
Oct. 20 — The rule prohibits non-municipal public water and sewer disconnections during extreme cold weather emergencies.
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KXAN: What does the Texas Railroad Commissioner do, and who’s running?
Oct. 21 — Despite the misleading name, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is the primary state agency responsible for regulating Texas’ oil gas industry. The three-member commission has jurisdiction over pipelines, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, the LP-gas industry and coal and uranium surface mining. The RRC also has oversight over Texas energy industries and enforces related state and federal laws.
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Utility Dive: Sen. Warren leads probe of Bitcoin impact on Texas power grid, ERCOT use of demand response ‘subsidies’
Oct. 19 — Warren’s Oct. 12 letter seeks information on Bitcoin miners’ participation in ERCOT demand response programs that pay large consumers to reduce energy consumption in times of grid stress. These “subsidies” to miners “feed back into the worsening climate crisis,” according to the lawmakers.
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Dallas Morning News: Solar and wind energy saved Texas customers more than $7 billion in 2022 so far
Oct. 17 — Researchers examined how much more expensive electricity would have been if the Texas grid did not use wind and solar power
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Waxahachie Daily Light: Council rejects Oncor’s rate increase request
Oct. 19 — The Waxahachie City Council on Monday approved a resolution to deny Oncor’s request to increase its distribution rates within the city. The resolution also authorizes participation with the Oncor Cities Steering Committee (OCSC), which includes various cities served by Oncor, and authorizes the hiring of legal counsel and consulting services.
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KVUE: Texas energy companies, leaders look to improve energy efficiency programs
Oct. 18 — Power companies, energy efficiency advocates, lobbyists, consultants and state leaders are looking at ways to increase energy savings.
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Fox 4: New ERCOT CEO wants to restore public trust. But at what cost to consumers?
Oct. 18 — Speaking about recent power success and his long-term power plan on Tuesday, we also learned how we avoided outages this summer and price increases that will likely continue.
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El Paso Times: Texas Gas Service proposes increasing residential gas bills more than 16% in El Paso area
Oct. 18 — Texas Gas Service wants to increase El Paso-area natural gas bills again to help pay for system improvements and other costs, just as the cold-weather season approaches and residents prepare to use gas-fueled furnaces.
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Denton Record-Chronicle: Texas Railroad Commission race focuses on push for renewable energy, industry regulation
Oct. 17 — The race for the Texas Railroad Commission pits a first-time political candidate who would like to see the state transition to renewable energy sources against the Republican incumbent who has faced accusations of corruption.
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KERA: Dallas, other North Texas cities, are fighting Oncor’s proposed rate hike
Oct. 12 —The City of Dallas is fighting a rate increase proposed by electricity provider Oncor. The city council voted unanimously to challenge a rate hike that would increase Oncor’s revenues about $251 million per year and increase electric bills for millions of people across most of North Texas.