Texas Officials Investigate Outrageous Energy Bills Amid Soaring Prices

Texas utilities regulator, the Texas Utilities Commission (PUCT), said on Saturday it was investigating “the factors that combined with the devastating winter weather to disrupt the flow of electricity to millions of people. Texas homes “.

CNN reached out to PUCT for clarification, but did not immediately respond.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling an emergency meeting to review the situation, he said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable that Texans who suffered for days in the freezing cold without electricity or heat are now stricken by skyrocketing energy costs,” Abbott said. “To protect families, I am actively working with the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House and members of the Legislative Assembly to develop solutions to ensure Texans are not required to pay unreasonable spikes in their bills. of energy.

Upshaw told CNN it had tried to switch from Griddy to another electricity provider, but the new company continued to push back its start date.

Griddy bills its customers at a market rate that varies with current electricity prices. Its website states that customers “pay exactly the price at which we buy electricity.” But with the winter storm ravaging the Texas power grid, Griddy’s prices have skyrocketed.

“While we value our members, we want the best for their wallets and families even more, even if it means helping them look to our competition,” the company said.

For now, Upshaw, the Dallas resident, has changed his credit card registered with Griddy to one that has been maximized to ensure that he cannot be billed any more. Yet even though he retained power, his bill continued to rise, he said.

Neighbors and friends who have accounts with Griddy told Upshaw the charges “destroyed their whole checking account, went into their savings account, they can’t pay their rent,” he said. .

“We have friends who are without power for 48 hours who came (to my house), and I said, I mean we are paying for that electricity, as well as other people are using it,” said Upshaw, adding that he is grateful to be alive and well.

The state agency says it is working with “power producers, pipeline operators and electric regulators to provide the support they need for natural gas deliveries.”

Although established as a regulator of the railways, the commission has regulated the oil and gas industry in the state for almost 100 years, according to the group’s website.

“The Texans have gone through enough hardship during this winter storm without having to worry about unforeseen additional energy costs,” Commissioner Wayne Christian said in the statement. “Our agency will do everything in its power to ensure that utilities have sufficient time to make up for these unforeseen expenses, so that consumers are not unduly burdened.”