NY PSC Chair Takes Shot At Texas Retail Market, Notes "Problems"

Audrey Zibelman, Chair of the New York PSC, took note of what she described as "problems" in the Texas retail electric market during yesterday's New York PSC meeting

Zibelman's comments came as the New York PSC adopted a moratorium on low-income customer participation in the retail electric and gas markets, as first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com yesterday (click here)

Staff and Commissioners discussed whether New York's moratorium was a first-in-the-nation policy. While Staff said that it was not familiar with every state (but believes the moratorium to be among the first of any such policy), Zibelman said more broadly that the PSC's adoption of the moratorium is responding to retail market issues being confronted across the country.

Specifically, Zibelman made note of recent press reports concerning the Texas market. Though not citing any issues specifically, Zibelman was ostensibly referring to the removal of 1¢/kWh plans from Texas Power to Choose and related issues concerning plans with minimum usage fees or usage-based credits

"Texas is having problems, and where Texas has been historically held up as where the market is working, even the chairman of the Texas Commission is looking into assertions that are being made that has her concerned," Zibelman said

"So I think what we're seeing in New York is ... we will have an opportunity when we vote on these [ESCO] items in the future to really help in the dialogue that's going on throughout the country," Zibelman said