Texas Generators' Narrative That State Faces Blackouts Being Used in Ad to Stop Choice in Michigan

Those doing the yeoman's work to expand electric choice in Michigan can thank Texas generators for making their life harder, by creating the narrative that Texas, and its current market, face blackouts.

Though the parroting of the Texas blackout risks -- a myth perpetuated by capacity market supporters -- has been seized upon by the Michigan utilities before, in fighting efforts to expand Michigan's choice market, the blackout risks take center stage in a new ad posted by Citizens for Energizing Michigan's Economy

Watch the ad below:

In relevant part, the ad opposing electric choice says that, "When Texas decided to experiment with deregulating their electricity, let's just say that things got a little bumpy ... Blackouts threatened communities across the state."

Indeed, it is hard to distinguish this anti-electric choice rhetoric from the playbook of Texans for Reliable Power, whose website warns, "Without enough electricity Texans will see blackouts - knocking out air conditioners, shutting down job sites and threatening our families' safety." According to Retuers, Texans for Reliable Power is a group including NRG Energy, Calpine, NextEra Energy, and Exelon.

"Texas' current market design will eventually result in low electricity reserve margins," Texans for Reliable Power proclaims (neglecting proven history as well as the latest CDR forecasts).

A radio report from Texans for Reliable Power says, "A new report says rolling blackouts could be 10 times more likely in a few short years. These recurring blackouts will hurt our vibrant economy, and impact our quality of life, your quality of life."

Of course, supporters of electric choice in Michigan are scrambling to argue that the Michigan utilities are distorting the Texas experience. However, when it comes to the looming blackouts facing Texas, it's up there in black and white on the merchant generator-backed Texans for Reliable Power website: either the Texas government intervenes in the current deregulated electric market, or the state will have blackouts.

The looming blackout narrative pushed by Texas generators helped sink Arizona's nascent investigation of retail choice. Should Michigan opt to not expand electric choice, we'll know who to thank.