Texas Power to Choose Price Ranking Will Not be Based on Promotional Rates

Variable priced products with promotional rates will be listed on the Texas Power to Choose website using their underlying, non-promotional rate, under changes made by the PUCT.

The modifications stem from a working group meeting led by Commissioner Donna Nelson, and are intended to ensure customers understand pricing for variable rate products after any promotional rate expires. The changes do not require opening a rulemaking on the customer disclosure regulations.

For purposes of Power to Choose, a promotional rate will be defined as any rate that is lower than the rate charged to existing customers.

Under the modifications, the price of a promotional variable rate product ranked on Power to Choose will be the underlying (non-promotional) rate that would be paid by an existing customer for that month. This underlying rate for existing customers will also be used for the average rate listed on the promotional product's Electricity Facts Label.

A new promotional rate information link will be added on Power to Choose underneath each product's name. Similar to the current "Special Terms" link, when a customer hovers their cursor over this promotional rate link, the promotional rate for the product will automatically pop up in a bubble.

The changes contemplate that after customers enter their zip code, they will be prompted to select their product type: fixed, indexed, or variable. For those selecting variable, prior to the price listing appearing, customers will be informed that some variable products may include promotional rates, and that such pricing may be found under the promotional rate link.

The precise details of the website modifications remain subject to change as they are being implemented, depending on if any web design issues arise.

Nelson reported that the working group does not believe that the issue of the duration of promotional rates -- a billing cycle versus a full 30 days -- can be addressed without opening up the rulemaking. Accordingly, the website changes described above will be implemented first, and the Commission will continue to consider, based on these improvements, whether additional changes are required. The decision to open a rulemaking may also be driven by anything coming out of the legislative session.