WFAA: : Dallas City Council approves higher rate for Atmos customers
May 28 — The rate will increase Dallas residents’ monthly bills by just under $10 per month, according to the council agenda. This comes on top of last year’s increase of almost $8 per month, WFAA previously reported.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-city-council-approves-another-rate-increase-for-atmos-customers/287-358a9465-6a1f-4baf-949c-2e6e56c1f5d0
Austin American-Statesman: Use Texas Gas agreement to lower utility costs
May 27 — Over the course of the next three months, the City Council will consider the franchise renewal agreement. The last time this occurred was 20 years ago. This is literally a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get longstanding problems corrected.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/austin-american-statesman/20260527/281629606928285
WFAA: Today, the Dallas City Council will decide whether Atmos can increase rates
May 27 — Today, the Dallas City Council will decide whether Atmos can increase rates. The company argues the price hikes are justified.
https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/local/today-the-dallas-city-council-will-decide-whether-atmos-can-increase-rates/287-229dc8f9-d016-4c54-a6d4-10fc0ea29674
The Hill: Paxton-backed French ousts incumbent in Texas Railroad Commission GOP runoff
May 27 — Former Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French is projected to deliver an upset and defeat incumbent Jim Wright in the GOP primary for Texas Railroad Commissioner, according to Decision Desk HQ.
https://thehill.com/homenews/5896011-french-gop-texas-railroad-commission-runoff/
E&E News: Texas oil companies push to fend off far-right bid for regulatory post
May 26 — The Texas Oil and Gas Association has joined Republican officials in backing incumbent Jim Wright over Bo French for a Railroad Commission seat as a closely watched primary runoff arrives.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/texas-oil-companies-push-to-fend-off-far-right-bid-for-regulatory-post/
East Texas News: Overview of state railroad commission presented
May 23 — Though the agency still carries the “railroad commission” name, it no longer regulates railroads. Established in 1891, the commission now oversees oil and gas production, pipelines, critical infrastructure, alternative fuels, natural gas utilities, and surface mining operations across Texas.
https://www.easttexasnews.com/stories/overview-of-state-railroad-commission-presented,90865
Dallas Morning News: Atmos settlement would raise average Dallas residential gas bill by $9.46 monthly
May 22 — The gas company initially sought a $38 million revenue increase from Dallas customers under its annual rate review process, according to a city memo released Friday. That’s equal to a 10.5% increase for a typical residential customer, or roughly $135 per year.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/dallas-city-council-review-atmos-233611177.html
KTRH: CenterPoint Says Natural Gas Smell Across Houston Not Due To System Issues
May 22 — The odor could be smelled up the I-45 corridor into northwest and northeast Harris County. That led to dispatch centers being inundated with calls.
https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/2026-05-21-centerpoint-says-natural-gas-smell-across-houston-not-due-to-system-issues/
KHOU: Where is the gas smell across Houston coming from?
May 21 — San Jacinto College also posted about the odor near their north campus. They investigated and determined that facilities are safe at the campus.
https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-gas-smell-thursday-may-21/285-b02e0262-d4f4-4bb6-a1d4-0eb140092a34
KUT News: Bo French talks more about DEI than oil and gas. But he could soon regulate the industry in Texas.
May 20 — Those endorsements, and Wright’s experience in the oil and gas industry, which the Railroad Commission regulates, should have made him the favored Republican in this year’s election for the head of the three-person commission.
https://www.kut.org/politics/2026-05-20/what-the-texas-railroad-commission-race-says-about-state-politics
Texas Tribune: Election for oil regulator becomes battleground for wealthy donors
May 19 — In the GOP runoff for Texas Railroad commissioner, billionaires, big oil companies and trade groups flood the campaign pockets of candidates Jim Wright and Bo French.
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/19/texas-railroad-commission-election-2026-billionaire-battleground/
Odessa-American: RC Commissioners assess more than $1.1 million in penalties
May 15 — The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed $1,133,572 in enforcement docket fines against operators and businesses at the Commissioners’ open meeting on Tuesday. The Commission has primary oversight and enforcement of the state’s oil and gas industry and intrastate pipeline safety.
https://www.oaoa.com/local-news/rrc-commissioners-assess-more-than-1-1-million-in-penalties-2/
City of Corpus Christi: City Council Approves Agreements Supporting Proposed Gas Storage Facility
May 12 — The action will authorize the execution of two real estate contracts associated with the proposed project, including approximately 3,021 acres of property over an underground pore space designated for natural gas storage. The acquisition will satisfy a key requirement for pursuing permitting of the facility through the Texas Railroad Commission.
https://www.corpuschristitx.gov/news/posts/city-council-approves-agreements-supporting-proposed-gas-storage-facility/
WFAA: Lake Dallas businesses say ongoing construction, utility work are driving customers away
May 12 — Small business owners in Lake Dallas say months of road closures, utility work and infrastructure repairs are making it difficult for customers to reach their stores and restaurants, leaving some worried about whether they can stay open.
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/denton-county/lake-dallas-businesses-ongoing-construction-utility-work-driving-customers-away/287-521ab720-eee0-4365-8459-fa07d4d2a387
Austin American-Statesman: Once-in-a-generation’ Texas Gas deal weighed City rates have doubled since 2019; critics demand safeguards
May 8 — As gas bills climb across Austin, the City Council approved on first reading Thursday what advisers are calling a “once-in-a-generation” franchise agreement with Texas Gas Service, the utility that serves roughly 95% of Austin’s natural gas customers. But members of the city’s Resource Management Commission have said the proposed 10-year deal does not go far enough to shield customers like Williams from escalating costs.
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/austin-american-statesman/20260508/284704803474496
KVUE: Austin council considering deal with Texas Gas Service
May 8 — Austin council members are considering a 10-year franchise agreement with Texas Gas Service despite concerns about increasing bills.
https://www.kvue.com/video/news/local/austin-city-council-deal-texas-gas-services-bill-concerns/269-8c539846-988b-4d3a-b4bd-e36a194efc30
News4SA: Gas leaks top 1,500 across San Antonio area late 2025, experts cite aging infrastructure
May 6 — Two weeks after two homes were destroyed in an explosion on the Northeast Side that sent multiple people to the hospital, new data is raising questions about how often gas leaks are being reported across the region.
https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/gas-leaks-top-1500-across-san-antonio-area-late-2025-experts-cite-aging-infrastructure-texas-investigation-explosions-injuries-homes-preston-hollow-neighborhood-records-railroad-commission
KUT News: Despite anger over bills, Austin considers new contract with Texas Gas Service
May 7 — The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on a plan to continue partnering with Texas Gas Service for another 10 years. That’s even though the council and residents have had plenty of complaints about the cost of the service being provided.
https://www.kut.org/austin/2026-05-07/austin-tx-city-council-new-contract-texas-gas-service
Austin American-Statesman: Austin weighs ‘once-in-a-generation’ Texas Gas deal as customers face rising bills
May 7 — The city’s gas rates have doubled since 2019. Some critics say leaders could do more to curb ballooning bills.
https://www.statesman.com/news/local/article/austin-texas-gas-deal-rising-bills-22243150.php
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Anti-Muslim Railroad Commission candidate could tank Texas’ economy | Opinion
May 3 — Consider that the largest refinery in Texas is owned by Saudi Aramco, also known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. Rather than sell, the company could simply shut down the refinery, leading to a huge overnight increase in gasoline prices. Other businesses closing could lead to layoffs.
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article315581676.html
KSAT: Texas Railroad Commission GOP runoff: Who is running and what to know
April 28 — In the GOP runoff, incumbent Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright is pitching himself as a “proven advocate for Texas energy” who also values “high environmental and safety standards.” Meanwhile, challenger Bo French has cast himself as a “MAGA conservative” who wants “to give Trump the backing he needs” in the energy industry.
https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2026/04/28/texas-railroad-commission-gop-runoff-who-is-running-and-what-to-know/
The Cool Down: Home explosion linked to decades-old plastic gas pipes that utility company was supposed to replace
April 25 — A doorbell camera captured a head-turning video of a gas explosion in North Texas, and the early investigation shows the blast may be linked to aging and faulty underground pipes.
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/video-gas-explosion-north-texas/
Crossroads Today: Pipeline explosion in Edna kills one, injures two in Wednesday afternoon incident
April 23 — Jackson County Sheriff Rick Boone said the Railroad Commission of Texas and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the explosion.
https://www.crossroadstoday.com/news/local-news/pipeline-explosion-in-edna-kills-one-injures-two-in-wednesday-afternoon-incident/article_8ad00a23-1a9e-4117-9e2e-aa3b14f8b8db.html
NBC DFW: Lake Dallas home explosion investigation continues one month later
April 23— A newly released video shows the moment a home exploded in Lake Dallas, trapping a woman inside before neighbors rescued her.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/lake-dallas-home-explosion-video/4014725/
KDFW: East Texas gas well fire near Etoile expected to burn for days After explosion
April 23 — A natural gas well fire sparked by an explosion in East Texas earlier this week could continue burning for several days as specialized crews work to bring it under control, local officials said.
https://www.fox4news.com/news/east-texas-gas-well-fire-etoile-expected-burn-days-after-explosion