July 8, 2013
Podcast: Smart Meter Opt-Out a Money-Making Opportunity for Texas Retail Electric Providers
An overview of how customers wanting a smart meter opt-out presents a new market for REPs
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July 5, 2013
ERCOT Files NPRR to Implement Loads in SCED
ERCOT has formally submitted for approval Nodal Protocol Revision Request 555 , Load Resource Participation in Security-Constrained Economic Dispatch.
July 5, 2013
Texas to Proceed With Evaluation of REP Credit Requirements, POLR Rules, In Light of Higher Price Caps
The Public Utility Commission of Texas directed Staff to proceed with an evaluation of credit requirements for retail electric providers, and other issues, prompted by the increase in the ERCOT price cap, eventually to $9,000/MWh in 2015.
July 5, 2013
ERCOT Reports Short Payment due to Late Payment by Milagro Power Company (QSE), PSEG Energy Resources and Trade
ERCOT issued a market notice on July 3 stating that Qualified Scheduling Entities (QSEs) and Congestion Revenue Right Account Holders (CRRAHs) that are owed monies from ERCOT on Settlement Invoices due for payout on July 3, 2013, will notice that the amount of funds transferred is short of the…
July 5, 2013
Texas Commissioners Agree on Entity Responsible for Collecting Smart Meter Opt-Out Fee (TDU vs. REP)
During the July 3 open meeting, Donna Nelson, Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Commissioner Kenneth Anderson agreed to a framework allowing customers to opt-out of having a provisioned advanced meter, including agreement on the entity responsible for billing the charges in…
July 3, 2013
Use of Incendiary Language in Pro-Capacity Market Op-Ed by NRG Leaves Open Flank to Attack Retail Choice
The use of incendiary language in a recent op-ed by NRG Energy in favor of a capacity market in Texas begs the question, that if we can't trust the market to assure resource adequacy, what else should we not "bet" on?
July 1, 2013
License Briefs
Interstate Gas Supply Receives Electric License in New State
July 1, 2013
Reality Check: ISO With Capacity Market Forced to Rely on "Out of Market" Solutions for Reliability
ISO New England, which requires load to pay capacity to meet a mandated reserve margin, has filed at FERC "out-of-market solutions" to meet looming reliability risks due to non-performance of resources receiving capacity payments.
June 28, 2013
TXU Rebrands Dynamic Pricing Products as Right Time Pricing
TXU officially rebranded its time-based rates as "Right Time Pricing" yesterday
June 28, 2013
Green Mountain Energy, EnTouch Controls Partner on Offer for Texas Small Businesses
Green Mountain Energy Company and EnTouch Controls now offer small businesses in Texas an off-the-shelf solution for monitoring and conserving energy use.
June 28, 2013
No Substantive Opposition to Operating Reserves Demand Curve Proposal, Except Fear It Might Foreclose Gravy Train
No substantive opposition to the B+ Operating Reserves Demand Curve was voiced yesterday during a Texas workshop on the subject, other than from supporters of alternative market designs who fear it might preclude the need for their preferred outcomes.
June 28, 2013
SHOCK: Texas Official Muses that Generators May Be Intentionally Underbidding to Keep Prices Down [to Manufacture Crisis?]
The continued lack of scarcity pricing in ERCOT, despite a host of pricing reforms and grid conditions which support scarcity, prompted Kenneth Anderson, Public Utility Commissioner of Texas, to muse whether generators were intentionally underbidding.
June 27, 2013
Briefly
Online Shopping Portal CurrentChoice.com Expands to Texas
June 27, 2013
License Briefs
Interstate Gas Supply Receives Electric License in New State
June 27, 2013
Texas Staff Suggest Modifying Capital Requirements for REP Certification Due to Higher Price Cap, Seek Guidance on Other Retail Market Impacts
Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas have sought guidance on moving forward with several projects to address retail market impacts from the higher system wide offer cap (SWOC), including potentially increasing the capital required of retail electric providers for certification.
June 26, 2013
Bounce Energy: 25% of Customers Enrolled in Critical Peak Rebate Program
Bounce Energy announced that nearly 25% of its Texas customer base are enrolled in its critical peak rebate program, known as Peak Rewards.
June 26, 2013
Brattle Report Indicates Operating Reserve Demand Curve in ERCOT Can Achieve Resource Adequacy
An analysis filed by The Brattle Group indicates that an energy-only market with the version B+ proposal for an Operating Reserve Demand Curve can result in an equilibrium reserve margin in excess of the current minimum target.
June 26, 2013
Texas Assigns Dockets for Rulemakings on REP Certification, Utility Affiliate Rules, Other Issues
The Public Utility Commission of Texas has assigned project numbers for several new rulemakings, including a review of the REP certification rules.
June 26, 2013
Under New Law, Texas PUC to Publish List of REPs Offering Discounts to Military Veterans with Severe Burns
A new law recently signed by Texas Gov. Perry requires that the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall publish a list of retail electric providers offering payment assistance programs customers who are military veterans with a significantly decreased ability to regulate body temperature because of…
June 26, 2013
Texas to Examine Average Pricing Disclosure for Time-Based Rates, Opens Docket
The Public Utility Commission of Texas will examine the issue of the average pricing disclosure required of retail electric providers offering time-based rates.
June 26, 2013
Texas Staff, Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. Reach Settlement on Staff Petition to Revoke REP Certificate
Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. have reached a settlement to fully resolve a Staff Notice of Investigation into, and petition to revoke the REP certificate of, Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc., which allows Glacial Energy of Texas, Inc. to maintain its…
June 25, 2013
Briefly
Texas Coalition for Affordable Power Announces New Members
June 25, 2013
Forbes Calls a Texas Capacity Market What It Is -- "More Regulation"
Credit to Christopher Helman of Forbes for calling a capacity what it is in a recent story on the Texas debate -- "a little more regulation."
June 25, 2013
NRG Lowers Retail Segment Guidance, Cites Rising Wholesale Costs, Margin Compression
Citing weather and wholesale price impacts, NRG has lowered its Adjusted EBITDA guidance for its retail segment by $75 million in each of 2013 and 2014.
June 25, 2013
TXU Energy Says It Launches First Time-Based Plans for Texas' Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
TXU Energy announced today that it is offering time-based electric rates to small and mid-sized business customers in Texas.