Jan. 17—AUSTIN — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) assessed $136,000 in penalties and secured $68,400 in market refunds for violations of electric rules at its open meeting this week. The Commission has primary oversight and economic regulatory authority over the state’s electricity, water, and telecommunications industries.
The Commission approved settlement agreements in three separate dockets:
— Docket No. 57028: A settlement agreement with a manufactured home rental community that provides submetered water and wastewater service to its residents for rule violations related to billing (16 TAC § 24.283). The company agreed to pay an $80,000 administrative penalty.
— Docket No. 56684: A settlement agreement with a transmission and distribution utility (TDU) for rule violations related to reliability and continuity of service standards (16 TAC § 25.52). The TDU agreed to pay a $56,000 administrative penalty.
— Docket No. 56859: A settlement agreement with an electric utility for rule violations related to inaccurate telemetering of resources during Winter Storm Uri (PURA § 39.151(j); 16 TAC §§ 25.503(e)(3), (f)(2) and (f)(8); and ERCOT Nodal Protocols § 6.4.6(1)). The rule violations resulted in excess revenues for the utility. As part of the settlement agreement, the utility has agreed to pay the excess earnings, amounting to $68,401.93, back to the market.
Administrative penalty payments are made to the PUCT and are ultimately deposited into the state’s general fund. Typically, payments must be made within 30 days of the signed final order.
A recording of this week’s open meeting is available here on the PUCT website. The next PUCT open meeting is scheduled for Friday, Jan 31, 2025.