Texas PUC Sets Start Date For Process For Reimbursements To Retail Electric Providers Under COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program

The Executive Director of the Texas PUC has issued a directive concerning the start date for a process for retail electric providers to be reimbursed for energy charges under the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program, under which eligible residential customers may not be disconnected for non-payment

See background on the Electricity Relief Program here

In a memo, the Executive Director wrote, "At the March 26, 2020 open meeting, the Commission issued an order establishing the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program (Program), as well as Project No. 50703, Reports of Transmission and Distribution Utilities on the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program."

"On April 2, 2020, the transmission and distribution utilities (TDUs) hosted an online meeting during which they established the process by which a retail electric provider (REP) could request the suppression of delivery charges and reimbursement for a portion of energy charges as detailed in the Commission’s order. Specifically, the process called for the REP to make the requests via the MarkeTrak tool, using a market rule subtype of 'ERP_A' for delivery charge suppression and a subtype of 'ERP_R' for energy charge reimbursement. The start date for this process was not specified," the Executive Director wrote

"This process may begin on April 20, 2020, unless otherwise ordered by the Commission. Any MarkeTrak requests, subtype 'ERP_A' or 'ERP_R', received prior to April 20, 2020 should be rejected by the TDU," the Executive Director wrote

Project No. 50664