Jan. 27, 2010

Statement of Geoffrey Gay, general counsel for several groups of cities that participate in both the regulated and deregulated energy markets.

“The Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based organization consistently cited by the electric industry to lend credence to anti-consumer policies, has released yet another misleading report about the dismal record of electric prices under deregulation. Here are the simple facts: for years before deregulation, Texas residential consumers paid rates below the national average. For years after market restructuring, Texans have paid rates above the national average. Read More

Dec. 8, 2009

Statement by Geoffrey Gay, General Counsel of the Cities Aggregation Power Project, Inc., relating to new electric industry report

In a new report, The Energy Retailer Research Consortium, an industry front group, attempts to mislead the public regarding the success of electric retail deregulation by comparing the Texas experience to the minority of states that have adopted retail deregulation. From an industry perspective, Texas is the leader of the other 13 states that have embraced deregulation. From a consumer perspective, Texas is the big loser. Read More

Sept. 9, 2009

Texas Cities Record Savings of $37 Million on Municipal Power Needs

More than 140 Texas communities saved a collective $37 million on their municipal electric bills in 2008 as members of the Cities Aggregation Power Project (CAPP) and the South Texas Aggregation Project, two statewide group-purchase alliances. The savings were disclosed in a report filed this month with the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) by the two groups. Read More

June 4, 2009

Solomons, Keffer, Davis and Turner are heroes for Texas consumers

“When it comes to protecting consumer pocketbooks, among the most important bills of the 81st Texas Legislature were those offered by Chairman Burt Solomons, Chairman Jim Keffer, Rep. Sylvester Turner and Sen. Wendy Davis. Each pushed measures to help bring relief to Texas electric ratepayers. They clearly identified the needs of their constituents and they acted to meet them. Read More

April 13, 2009

Texas Mayors Urge Legislature to Fix Electric Deregulation Faults

A group of Texas mayors speaking on behalf of more than 150 communities across the state have come to Austin with a message: pass legislation to help lower electric bills for Texas consumers. Read More

April 6, 2009

Op-Ed: Debunking Myths about Electric Deregulation in Texas

Despite years of price increases, power generation companies keep insisting that Texans were dealt a winning hand with electric deregulation. Of course anyone who pays an actual light bill doesn’t buy into this fiction. But the industry lobby continues undeterred, especially in Austin. Their apparent mission: cloud the issue so as to block meaningful reform. Read More