HOUSTON -- First, it filed for bankruptcy protection. Now, Houston-based Riverway Power Company has changed its mind. It is pulling the plug, after all.

The decision means the 5,000 customers with fixed rates at Riverway will be switched to providers of last resort (POLR). Many KPRC Local 2 viewers asked investigative reporter Amy Davis about what to do now.

Riverway's announcement on Tuesday that it is closing brings the total number of Texans switched to new providers without their consent in the last month to more than 40,000.

Many of you are confused and have e-mailed your questions.

Jack Halpert called us and left the following message.

"I had National Power that we both know went under. I just got a bill from National Power that runs through May 30. I call the state useless. My question is, 'Do I pay it or what?' I don't want to get behind in electric bill payments, but I don't know what to do."

The Public Utility Commission says you should hold onto that bill. Don't pay it until you are squared away with your new electric provider and the POLR.

National Power cannot disconnect your power. You want to make sure you're paying the company that can leave you in the dark. Also, if you gave NPC a deposit that is larger than your final bill, you should not pay the bill.

Former National Power customer Yvonne Hardy wrote that her POLR provider is charging her a $300 deposit. If it's not paid by June 12, the electric company says it will disconnect her power.

Other customers told KPRC they are switching to new companies, but the switch won't happen before the deposit is due. Will their power be disconnected?

The PUC says your power can be cut off. The customer should check to see if the switch is happening as quickly as possible by asking the new provider for an "expedited off-cycle switch" or a "waiver of the customer notification process."

Lastly, many of you have been told that you can't switch from the POLR for 20 to 45 days.

The PUC says the switch should be happening much sooner and could take as little as four days. You may have to pay a $6 fee for getting CenterPoint to read your meter early for the new company.

For more questions and answers, check out Amy's Ask Amy blog.

More Information:

Document: Riverway Backs Out Of Bankruptcy
Document: Judge Approves Change