Texas PUC Fails To Protect Texans…Again

Posted on October 11, 2007
Filed Under Consumer Protection, Scandals |

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Once again we have a State Commission that fails to put Texas citizens first instead of Corporate profit.

Amy Davis of Channel 2 in Houston did an investigative report a few weeks ago about these hidden fees and other charges showing up on consumers electric bills. Word apparently got all the way to Austin the board of the Texas Public Utility Commission. here’s a little bit from the transcripts from last nights story.

At an Oct. 2 Public Utilities Commission meeting, commissioner Barry Smitherman told his fellow commissioners and the CEOs of several electric companies, “The press we’re getting right now is terrible.” Smitherman told them there has been a series of stories running in Houston. He’s referring to our investigation that showed you how a new state rule that was designed to protect consumers from unfair over-billing is now costing many of you more money.

But there’s more, lot’s more.

We introduced you to Paul Pinell. For more than a decade, meter readers never told Pinell they had any problems getting in to read his electric meter. But like thousands of others, this summer CenterPoint Energy told him if he didn’t keep his gate unlocked or pay $69 to install a meter that meter readers could read from the street, he’d be in the dark.

“I think it is confusing,” said Smitherman at the meeting.

Not only did PUC commissioners not know the details of the options CenterPoint has laid out for you, commissioners can’t seem to understand why its rule change is causing customers so many headaches.

Smitherman said, “You wouldn’t know it by the e-mails and stories they’re running that we’re trying to do folks a favor.”

I’ve said it all along. These people on the Commissions are so far removed from the lives of everyday Texans and so far into the pockets of the Corporations, there is no way they can, nor apparently want to, help us. Their chief concern is keeping the Corporations that line their pockets happy…and they do a good job of that.

They can no more relate to you and I than we can relate to a Catfish on the bottom of a lake.

Case in point. Ms. Davis points out this item of great confusion among the Commissioners. It’s a surcharge that CenterPoint Energy is charging customers to read their meters manually. It cost you $69 for them to read your meter. You’d think that would be an easy item to resolve. Perhaps for me and you, but not the Commissioners on the PUC Board.

At one point in the meeting, a PUC commissioner did seem concerned about charging consumers the full $69 for a remote-read meter on one bill.

Instead of telling CenterPoint it couldn’t do that, the commissioner asked the company if it would consider spreading the charge out over several months.

See, I told you so. Do anything except upset CenterPoint.

That’s not all. In East Texas where new digital meters are being installed by some of the Electric Companies, customers have received some outrageous bills. It’s obvious these new digital meters are not fool proof. It’s so bad that Customers have filed a lawsuit against the Electric companies because of inflated readings.  You’d think this would be an excellent opportunity for the Texas Public Utility Commission to step up to the plate and help Texans. You’d be thinking wrong.

All they could do was harp on what a great idea the digital meters were. Screw the consumers! These new digital meters may inflate readings, but hey, they’re a great idea for revenue for the Electric Companies!

Some east Texas cities are suing electric companies there for what they claim are inflated readings by the new meters.

This is how your commissioners reacted to those concerns at that Oct. 2 meeting. Commissioner Paul Hudson said, “I, too, am excited about them (the digital meters) and if there’s anything we can do to help talk up the potential benefits, I think we should take that opportunity.”

Smitherman seemed just as enthusiastic when he said, ” We’ve all got to be on the same page about the value of these digital meters.”

That’s right. PUC Commissioners spent much of the meeting advocating, not for you the consumer, but for the rollout of the new advanced digital meters.

The discussion covered several facets of our story except how they can help you with your electric bill.

The head of PUC’s customer service department said, “Some folks are looking for sensationalism.”

What did I tell ya? They don’t get it and probably never will.

You really need to go to Click2Houston.com and watch the video. The looks on the faces of these Commissioners as they tried to weasel their way out of the tough issues says it all. They didn’t have a freakin’ answer for anything.

They looked and acted like you had walked into the barn and caught them with their pants down around their ankles in the sheep stall.

If you’d like to contact Barry Smitherman, the PUC Commissioner, and let him know what a poor job he’s doing protecting Texas consumers, here’s his email address: barry.smitherman@puc.state.tx.us and here’s his phone number: 512-936-7025

If you’d like to contact the other Commissioners and also let them know what a poor job they’re doing, here’s where you can find their contact info, all except Julie Caruthers Parsley, her contact info isn’t on her Bio page as the other Commissioners are. Go figure

http://www.puc.state.tx.us/about/commissioners/index.cfm

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Comments

2 Responses to “Texas PUC Fails To Protect Texans…Again”

  1. David Altmeyer on August 22nd, 2008 4:11 pm

    Hello,
    I am reeling from my electric company (Amigo Energy) doubling my rate from 11.7 to 19.7 because my 6 month contract expired. They sent a notice on July 31, I received it August 4th, and they said they would change the rates August 6th. I couldn’t possibly get another company to pick up the service in 2 days. I have arranged another company (Startex) to pick up the service September 2, 2008.
    I called the PUC and asked how can they let these companies double rates on a two day notice, and the receptionist said to file a complaint, and that they get a lot of complaints on this issue. My question to you is, will a complaint work, considering your article, and how the Commission is appointed ( by Rick Perry ) ?
    Also, what is your take on Startex Energy ?

    Thank you,

    David Altmeyer

  2. David Altmeyer on August 22nd, 2008 4:13 pm

    Is this typical of how the PUC handles complaints ?

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