Under the emergency order, distressed residential consumers can avoid non-payment disconnections by agreeing to have their bills deferred during the COVID-19 crisis. ________________________________________________ Financially distressed Texans who otherwise face...
Essential staff at the nation’s power plants may find themselves living on site as the COVID-19 crisis worsens, and some plants already have begun stockpiling beds, blankets and food. ________________________________________________ No utility shut-offs during...
The ACSC reviewed a series of GRIP rate increases in a portion of the Atmos service area. By R.A. Dyer The Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program, or GRIP, allows monopoly gas utilities to increase rates even if the company’s overall expenditures are declining,...
In seven out of 10 years, the RRM resulted in better outcomes for Atmos customers than did GRIP. Chances are, if you live in Texas you pay money each month to a monopoly energy utility. This goes for nearly anyone who receives home gas service or anyone who receives...
Reform — that was the message delivered this week to Texas lawmakers considering the future of the much maligned Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program. Known also as “GRIP,” the program allows Texas gas utilities to increase rates once a year, but without any...
Controversial “alternative” rate-making schemes allow monopoly utilities to hike rates without substantive regulatory review. ________________________________________________ Natural gas commodity prices are less than half what they were in 2004 and yet average home...
One of the most important municipal coalitions currently active in gas ratemaking is the Atmos Cities Steering Committee, an organization of over 150 cities in north and central Texas with nearly 1.2 million residential customers.