• Electric service options are available to residential customers in many areas of Texas at prices below the last regulated price. For example, in the Dallas area, prices are available that are almost 4% lower than the last regulated price. Similarly, in Houston, prices are available that are almost 8% lower. Powertochoose.org 1/22/08 (updated on 1/12/08) and http://www.puc.state.tx.us/nrelease/2001/120701.cfm

Let's not pull the plug on electrical deregulation
By Mitchell Schnurman
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

If Texas got a do-over on electric deregulation, would you vote yea or nay?

This sounds like an academic question, given that dereg started phasing in a decade ago. But it should be the starting point for any discussion of what’s next, because the answer determines how far we’re willing to go now.

Retail electricity competition pumps billions in economy
San Antonio Business Journal
Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Ten years ago, state lawmakers passed the Texas Electric Choice Act as a way to encourage competition in the retail electricity industry.

On Tuesday, Waco economist M. Ray Perryman released a report that indicates that investments in power generation and transmission have substantially benefitted business activity across the state.

Texas residential electric price offers have fallen by more than 28 percent since July 2008, when natural gas prices were at an all time high, according to recent reviews. Texas serves as the most recent example of how competitive electricity markets across the nation are continuing to outperform monopoly structures.

A study just released by The Perryman Group shows that in the 10 years since Texas opened up its markets to competition, investments in power generation and transmission have substantially benefitted business activity across the state.

Companies began investing in newer and more efficient sources of power-generation as a way to become competitive.  Perryman: “Not only have these expenditures benefited firms in construction, manufacturing and engineering.  They have made important contributions to many other segments of the economy.”