Texas PUC indefinitely suspends disconnections for non-payment, continues COVID-19 deferred payment plans
As crises stack up — from crippling winter weather to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — the Public Utility Commission of Texas has voted for an ongoing suspension of disconnections for non-payment and continuation of a measure requiring that deferred payment plans be offered to customers.
Any customers of investor owned utilities (IOUs) under the PUC’s jurisdiction — Oncor, AEP, CenterPoint, and TNMP among them — will benefit from the decision. Those utilities are further banned from even processing disconnections. While such provisions do not apply to municipally owned utilities or electric cooperatives, not within the PUC’s jurisdiction, the Commission urged retail electric providers to delay invoicing for residential and small commercial electricity customers as well.
“Our absolute top priority as a commission and a state is protecting electricity customers from the devastating effects of a storm that already affected their delivery of power,” Chairman DeAnn Walker said. “The order and directives are intended to be temporary, likely through the end of this week, to address the potential financial impacts that are especially challenging during this extremely difficult time.”
At the height of this month’s devastating winter storms, more than 4.3 million Texans lost power and heat, and many are still without running water.
The PUC further pressed the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to deviate from its protocol deadlines and timing related to settlements, collateral obligations, and invoice payments to prevent further market destabilization while state leaders consider how best to tackle mounting financial troubles.
