Texas Staff Recommend Application Of Start-Up, Technology-Focused Retail Provider GridPlus For REP Certificate Be Approved

Staff of the Public Utility Commission of Texas have recommended that the application of GridPlus Texas Inc. for an Option 1 retail electric provider certificate be approved.

As previously reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com (see story here), GridPlus is a start-up which has generally emphasized an approach using artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, though, as noted below, its initial Texas business will not include certain aspects (prepay, peer-to-peer sales) its general business model has described

Staff recommended approval of the application noting that GridPlus had demonstrated compliance with the applicable Substantive Rules, including the rules governing financial requirements and technical and managerial fitness

Staff noted that, in response to a Staff Request for Information, GridPlus stated that it had no intent to enter the prepaid market in the near future but that if plans change, GridPlus would notify the Commission as required by rule.

Furthermore, Staff noted that GridPlus also stated that it does not plan to offer direct customer-to-customer sales of electricity in the near future (see story here).

Staff noted that, on March 2, 2018, the Texas Ratepayers' Organization to Save Energy (Texas ROSE) and the Texas Legal Services Center (TLSC) filed joint objections to the GridPlus application.

"Staff considered the objections and determined that they did not affect Staff's conclusions," Staff said

See prior story for more: Texas Consumer Advocates Raise Concerns With Retail Provider Application Of Grid+, And Its Cryptocurrency, Prepaid Service