Texas Bill Would Provide For One-Time Cash Payments To Customers Of Retail Electric Providers, Via REPs

A bill has been introduced in the Texas House of Representatives (HB 2828) that would provide one-time cash payments from state funds to customers of retail electric providers and other LSEs

HB 2828 would require the PUC to, "establish a program to provide onetime cash payments from state funds appropriated for that purpose to retail customers of municipally owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and retail electric providers in the ERCOT power region."

The bill itself does not appear to appropriate any specific state funds for the purpose of the program

The bill provides that the program must provide a payment of: (1) $250 for each residential retail account; and (2) $250 for each commercial retail account

REPs would provide a customer list to the PUC, reflecting customers served after Feb. 13, 2021 but before Feb. 19, 2021, and the PUC would then provide the appropriate amount of funds to the REP

REPs would be required to credit each applicable retail account with the appropriate amount, for current accounts. For accounts that were closed after February 19, 2021, REPs would be required to send a payment in the appropriate amount to the former account holder