Wal-Mart Notes Potential Barriers To Customer Choice In Moving To Intervene In CCN Case For Entergy Texas' Proposed New Generation

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and affiliate Texas Retail Energy (TRE), LLC moved to intervene in a CCN proceeding before the Texas PUC concerning Entergy Texas' sought approval for a new 1,000 MW ratebased power plant, the Montgomery County Power Station

As is standard in such CCN applications, a preliminary order in the case provides that an issue to be addressed in the CCN proceeding is: "What effect, if any, would approval of the proposed Montgomery County power station have on the implementation of customer choice in ETI's service territory, especially the effect on mitigating market power, auctioning rights to generation capacity, potential stranded costs, and divesting generation capacity? PURA § 39.452."

Noting that Texas Retail Energy anticipates serving 21 Wal-Mart facilities within Entergy Texas' service area upon any implementation of customer choice, Wal-Mart noted that, "[a] Commission decision on this designated issue could adversely affect TRE's ability to prepare for and serve its customers upon the implementation of customer choice in ETI's service territory."

"The decision could further delay the establishment of customer choice, affect the supply of available electricity, or impose conditions and restrictions upon persons seeking to supply end-use customers in ETI's service territory," Wal-Mart noted

See background on Entergy Texas' proposal for building the 1,000 MW Montgomery station, and how it could pose a barrier to choice, here