Expansion of Choice to New Texas Service Areas On Track for May Start

The expansion of electric choice to the former Cap Rock service areas, now part of Sharyland Utilities, is on track for a May 1 start date after the Public Utility Commission of Texas yesterday approved unbundled delivery rates for the service area.

As previously reported, the Commission's order will extend electric choice to some 44,000 customers in Sharyland's Stanton, Colorado City, Brady, and Celeste divisions.

A prior order directed that choice shall begin on May 1, 2014, or 90 days after Sharyland files its tariffs to implement the final Commission order approving unbundled delivery rates for those divisions, whichever is later.

With the approval yesterday of the final unbundled delivery rates, the compliance tariffs are to be finalized by January 30, which is more than 90 days before May 1, allowing choice to begin on May 1 as scheduled.

The PUCT approved unbundled delivery rates as contained in an uncontested stipulation, see our prior story for details on the rates (click here).

Sharyland will be holding a REP workshop on February 19 in Dallas to review new business practices, as the Stanton, Colorado City, Brady, and Celeste service areas transition to choice.

Sharyland has been notified by the PUCT Staff that Sharyland Utilities, L.P., the name for the Sharyland areas newly offering choice, has been added to the PowerToChoose website. Additionally, the name for the Sharyland's McAllen division (which currently offers choice) has been updated in the database to reflect the recent name change to Sharyland Utilities, L.P. – McAllen. Once REPs are ready to post offers the system is ready to accept.