Texas PUC Chairman Announces Resignation; Lt. Gov. Seeks Resignation Of ERCOT CEO

DeAnn Walker has resigned as Chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, effective immediately

In a resignation letter, Walker stated, "I testified last Thursday in the Senate and House and accepted my role in the situation."

"I believe others should come forward in dignity and duty and acknowledge how their actions or inactions contributed to the situation," Walker wrote

"The gas companies, the Railroad Commission, the electric generators, the transmission and distribution utilities, the electric cooperatives, the municipally owned utilities, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, and finally the Legislature all had the responsibility to foresee what could have happened and failed to take the necessary steps for the past ten years to address the issues that each of them could have addressed," Walker wrote

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also called for the resignation of Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) President and CEO Bill Magness

An ERCOT media representative said in a statement provided to outlets that, "Given the recent resignations of several ERCOT board members and the current composition of the ERCOT Board of Directors, our Corporate Secretary will be working with the current, remaining members to consider this request."

"Mr. Magness will continue to work with the Texas Legislature and any state agencies on investigations of the recent winter storm and its reform of ERCOT," the statement from ERCOT's media rep. said