Texas - Compete Coalition

Remarks by Secretary Federico Peña, KEMA Executive Forum

Delivered April 7, 2011

Texas

Good afternoon. Thank you for that kind introduction. It’s a pleasure to be here among so many familiar and friendly faces. I’m here today as National Co-Chair of the COMPETE Coalition, and I’m pleased to see so many of our members and allies at the conference.

April 7, 2011 | Joel Malina |

The Texas Competitive Electricity Market: The Results Are In

The Texas Market Benefits Consumers

• The electric price offers for residential consumers have fallen more than 28 percent since July 2008, when natural gas prices were at an all time high. Texas serves as the most recent example of how competitive markets across the nation are continuing to outperform monopoly structures.
“The ERCOT Competitive Market is Responsible to Recent Drops in Natural Gas Prices,” Association of Electric Companies of Texas, January 2009

• The average competitive price of electricity today is 9.46% below the average 2001 regulated price and 8.71% below the national average.
Texas Public Policy Foundation, January 2010

April 14, 2010 | admin |

The Texas Competitive Electricity Market: The Results Are In

The Texas Market Benefits Consumers

• 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

• “...competitive prices provided customers opportunities for savings, compared to estimated regulated prices, and regulated prices would have been higher than the price to beat” Letter from PUC Executive Director Lane Lanford to Representative Sylvester Turner Regarding the PUC Report Electricity Pricing in Competitive Retail Markets in Texas”, Public Utility Commission of Texas (March 2, 2006)

April 14, 2009 | admin |

Let's not pull the plug on electrical deregulation

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.

March 3, 2009 | jmelberg |

Retail electricity competition pumps billions in economy

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.

March 3, 2009 | jmelberg |

Residential Electric Price Offers Falling in Texas; Consumers Support Competition

Competitive electricity markets continue producing strong customer value nationwide

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.

February 9, 2009 | jmelberg |

New study: Electricity competition sparks Texas economy

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.”

February 3, 2009 | jmelberg |