Report: Texas Electric Complaints Down, But REP "Violations" Up in 2013

A report from Regulatory Compliance Services says that the total volume of electric complaints filed by consumers with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in calendar year 2013 decreased for the fifth consecutive year, but the "violation" rate increased for the third year in a row.

According to Regulatory Compliance Services, approximately 1 in every 6 electric complaints resulted in, "an informal finding by PUCT staff of a violation."

Regulatory Compliance Services reported that the PUCT received 6,816 electric complaints in calendar year 2013. Investigations related to Retail Electric Providers (REPs) accounted for 4,631 of the 6,128 complaints investigated by the Commission during the year.

"Also in 2013, the PUCT staff informally determined that REPs may have violated commission rules on approximately 22% of the complaints investigated in 2013 which is up from the 18% last year and the 14% in 2011 and 2010," Regulatory Compliance Services said.

Billing issues accounted for 2,441 of the REP complaints received related to retail electric service which is almost the same as the 2012 volume.

Further information including each REP's violation rate can be found in Regulatory Compliance Services' report