Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/24/2021 12:48:35 PM

The Right's mantra of deregulation really screwed TEXANS.

Texas’s deregulated electricity market has raised costs to consumers by $28 billion since 2004, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis published Wednesday.

The analysis found that consumers purchasing power from the deregulated electricity market have paid significantly more than state residents whose sources were traditional electric utilities.

The report comes after widespread power outages in Texas that left millions of residents without power for days amid freezing temperatures. That was followed by many households receiving sky-high electricity bills, with warnings from experts that consumers are likely to be hit with covering the costs for grid upgrades.

The decision to have a deregulated electricity market stems back to 1999 when legislation was first introduced to deregulate the market in Texas. Supporters of the bill said it would create more competition in the sector and lower prices for consumers.

However, households under the deregulated market paid rates 13 percent higher than the nationwide average from 2004 to 2019, according to the Journal. Those who used traditional utilities in Texas paid 8 percent less than the national average during that time frame.

The data used for the analysis came from the federal Energy Information Administration.

Although deregulation in Texas was designed to allow for more competition, mergers in the industry have left Texans with two main retail electricity providers.

Texas is not the only state with some deregulated electricity market, but other states give residents the choice between retail electricity and electricity from a regulated state utility.

When the bill in Texas was passed for a deregulated market, 60 percent of residents were forced to get their electricity from a retail company, the Journal reported. 

Investigations into electric companies and the reason for the massive outages during the winter storm are now in the works as part of an effort to ensure Texas does not face similar power shortages in the future.

Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/24/2021 1:34:27 PM

Wonder why Alberta, Canada, whose temperatures last week ran from -13 degrees fahrenheit to 16 degrees fahrenheit, and who experienced demand far worse than Texas  (all time record demand) had no problems with the cold at all. 

Answer:  A reliable and resilient grid that included gas and coal and little in the way of unreliable wind techology.  They are not connected to larger electrical grids either.  They manage this themselves.  Goes to prove that statewide and national policy that encouraged investment in wind and not in fossil fuels found out the hard way about which is most reliable and efficient in adverse conditions.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/24/2021 1:42:07 PM (updated 2/24/2021 1:59:06 PM)

Do those energy plants in Canada have to beg the government to exceed emission standards to produce more in a crisis like Texas had to and be told to charge users by the government at $1500 / Kwh to be able to increase supply at underutlized fossil fuel plants?

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/24/2021 1:57:30 PM

https://www.chooseenergy.com/electricity-rates-by-state/

November 2020 data show that the average U.S. price is 13.4 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). That’s the latest data available. The national average increased 1.8 percent compared with the previous month

based on the map of US at the above site.

Alabama 11.85 cents per kwh

Texas 12.2 cents per kWh ranked 23rd in US in terms of cost.  (for most current I randomly picked a houston zip code to check most current data LINK)  

California is 22.26 cents per kwh ranked 47th in US  ( also unregulated ) bet californians would love to cut power bill in half AND not have rolling annual blackouts

Below is apparently todays energy rates set in Texas - anyone not willing to sign up for 6-10 cents per kwh if it was available in your area?

Texas electricity rates

Please note: All rates above are accurate as of 2/24/2021, 12:03:53 PM CST for utility Oncor. Rates may have changed since this date/time. For the most up to date rates in your area, please enter your zip code above.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	CRD
Date:	2/24/2021 7:01:34 PM

Most of Texas uses natural gas and the lines froze. It is a Right Wing lie to blame turbines. Turbines are used in the North without a problem because they spend  money to winterize them with heaters in the blades. Looks like Alex Jones is now your primary source for news.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	PHIL
Date:	2/24/2021 7:04:34 PM (updated 2/24/2021 7:05:19 PM)

Wow. Looks like you are on to something. I would contact the people of Texas who are freezing their a**es with the info to make them feel better. Knowing Phil is working the case is a big plus to those without electricity, heat, and food.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	Duh???
Date:	2/24/2021 7:41:13 PM (updated 2/24/2021 7:44:24 PM)

Could it be that Alberta insisted that utilities take whatever measures were needed to make sure they could provide the juice regardless?  You seem to be rather nicely making GF's point for him.

BTW:  If you think the government of TX is forcing the unregulated utilities to put most of their marbles in renewables you may need to do a little research.

Name:	CRD -	Reply
Subject:	Moron
Date:	2/24/2021 10:07:58 PM

In Texas' situation, my colleagues suggest that the environmentalist lobby and its control over energy regulators kept Texas from building CAPACITY, not production facilities.  These lobbyists are not registered in the state and have enormous control over energy sector decisions there. The wind turbines production plummeted anywhere from 83-91%.  Wind accounts for 24.8% of Texas energy production.  That was a huge production fail.  Natural Gas production actually increased initially before failing due to the well heads freezng, but nowhere to the extent of wind.   Texas was still supplying NG to the rest of the country during the freeze, at their expense.  Contrary to Fish's comments, Wind and NG production were equal over the 30 day winter period before Feb 14. 

Their suggestion is that the environmentalist lobby register with the state and when the next demand/capacity crisis hits, turn their power off first. Second, require that infrastructure exist in all energy sectors that can mitigate crisis' like these, and without, in the case of wind and solar, Government subsidies.  Let them compete like everyone else with no built in advantage.  There should be a common sense solution, not a right versus left one.

Name:	architect -	Reply
Subject:	CRD says we need common sense solutions
Date:	2/24/2021 11:57:11 PM

not right or left solutions.  Really?   Pardon my skepticism, but that's an attitude that is certainly not evidenced in the archive of your previous posts.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	What a dumb@ss
Date:	2/25/2021 5:54:02 AM

It's been 70 degrees in Texas for days now.  I don't think anybody there is freezing their @ss off anymore.  

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	What a dumb@ss
Date:	2/25/2021 8:32:13 AM

Maybe the are running their AC really hard to remember what the freak weather pattern did last week...

I agree GFY is a dumb@ss 

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/25/2021 9:06:52 AM

Long but intersting info

Name:	Smitty -	Reply
Subject:	Deregulation Screwed TEXANS
Date:	2/25/2021 2:30:41 PM

Complete BS; you and the Texas governor make a great pair.