We protect our homes and property by locking doors and gates. We put passwords on accounts with sensitive information. But KPRC 2 Investigates discovered there’s nothing you can do to protect your electric service from getting canceled or switched without your consent.
At a time when it seems like just about everything is more expensive, we want to warn you about potential sticker shock when it comes to your bills. You’ll probably be paying more for several of your utility bills this winter. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team is here with what you need to know to prepare.
A perennial crisis at South Africa’s monolithic electricity supplier, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., jeopardizes the nation’s entire economy. The state-owned utility can’t cover its costs and make interest payments on its mountain of debt, leaving it reliant on a series of government bailouts to stay afloat. The country has suffered intermittent power cuts since 2005 because dilapidated power plants can’t keep pace with demand. Now the government is splitting Eskom into three entities in the hope of r
washingtonpost.comIt is heating up outside, and that is a good reminder that you may need to shop around for a new electric plan. We know electric rates tend to go up in the heat of the summer. That’s why you should lock in your rate before they start to go up.
Deregulating the electric market in Texas gave consumers the choice of which power company they want to pay for their electricity, but weeding through the providers and plans is not easy. It takes time and focus. Even when you think you’ve read everything, there are “gotchas” and fine print that can stick you with a higher bill than you thought you’d be paying. It’s why some consumer advocates want state lawmakers to refine the system.
State lawmakers are pouring through more than 200 proposed bills in Austin that would bring change to Texas’ electricity market. While almost all of the proposed laws focus on requiring power generators to maintain their plants to avoid another massive outage like we saw in the winter freeze, one bill would make wholesale and variable rate electric plans (like the plans sold by Griddy) illegal in Texas.
The advertiser paid a fee to promote this sponsored article and may have influenced or authored the content. The views expressed in this article are those of the advertiser and do not necessarily reflect those of this site or affiliated companies. Have you considered switching energy providers? It might be on your mind especially following last month’s winter storm. If you recall, the winter storm left millions of Texans without power.
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2020, file photo, the company logo appears on an unsold 2020 Model X at a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo. The U.S. governments auto safety agency has rejected a request to investigate unintended acceleration in Tesla electric vehicles, saying the acceleration was caused by drivers pushing the wrong pedal. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)Tesla is installing a gigantic battery that is said to help bring more power to Texas’ electrical grid, according to a report. The construction was kept undercover, but Brazoria County public documents confirmed the company’s role in the installation, according to Bloomberg. A subsidiary was registered as Gambit Energy, LLC and is said to bring more than 100 megawatts of energy in Angelton, which is measured to power at least 20,000 homes during the summer months.
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Griddy, LLC for “violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act through false, misleading, and deceptive advertising and marketing practices,” according to a news release sent by Paxton’s office. During the February winter freeze, multiple Texas power companies left millions of Texans without power and heat during record-low temperatures across the state. As Texans struggled to survive this winter storm, Griddy made the suffering even worse as it debited outrageous amounts each day. As the first lawsuit filed by my office to confront the outrageous failure of power companies, I will hold Griddy accountable for their escalation of this winter storm disaster,” said Paxton. This is but a first step to hold companies accountable for the suffering Texans experienced during and after the power grid failure.
HOUSTON – Last week’s electric shortage has given some customers a jolt. Some people who were on variable rate wholesale electricity plans now owe thousands of dollars for just one month of power. If you were to switch providers today, Jesson Bradshaw, the CEO of Energy Ogre says rates are not bad. CenterPoint is now going back and correcting that usage data to send to retail electric providers so they know what to charge customers. And if you’re on a switch hold, you can not switch from your provider,” said Davies.
The Griddy app displays the current wholesale electricity price on a phone in this 2019 file photo. HOUSTON – A Chambers County woman has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the electric company, Griddy. This is not the first time Griddy customers have felt the effects of extreme weather on the electric bills. This means that if the company’s wholesale price goes up, the customer’s price goes up as well. It’s unclear how many other Texans also pay wholesale prices from other companies.
As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Do we still need to conserve electricity? ERCOT ended emergency operations last Friday after power outages forced the electrical grid to conserve power during the winter storm. Thank you for your help in saving energy while the need was greatest! @ERCOT_ISO has returned to normal operations and conservation is no longer being requested.
Investigating the Texas power gridThe forecast was for record breaking cold for Texas, including Houston. KPRC Investigates reporter Robert Arnold takes a deep dive into what went wrong and is a guest on this week’s Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall. After his second impeachment acquittal, former president Trump may have a renewed ability to play a pivotal role in the future of the Republican Party but to what end? “He has the ability to make life very difficult for the Republican party, particularly in seats that are competitive seats where they want some moderate or centrist moderate candidates,” Jones said. “I think that he’s going to be the butt of national jokes for a while,” Professor Rottinghaus said.
HOUSTON – Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) officials held a news conference Thursday to address the current power situation in Texas, saying there is a possibility that outages could continue if demand outstrips supply as people come back online. AdIn addition to the discussion about the current situation, ERCOT said information about the facilities that failed and a timeline of events will eventually come out in weeks or even perhaps months ahead. The officials also addressed local calls for the ERCOT board to be replaced, saying if the Texas Legislature would sanction such a change, it would follow such governance. Discussing winterization of facilities, ERCOT officials said that’s a matter for the owners who operate the facilities across the state. The ERCOT officials declined to give a grade to themselves when pressed by reporters, with one saying, “I think other people ought to grade us.
Not because it will get anyone’s lights on faster, but because residents and business owners could be out a lot of money if some electricity providers start to fold in the days ahead. CenterPoint said customers without power should be prepared to have no power for several more days. - These conditions in the electric industry mean we will likely start to see some retail electric providers (These are the companies you pay for electricity.) That is what the retail electric providers pay to get it. Some electric providers are telling customers to please leave... even offering $100 off their last electric bills to encourage customers to go somewhere else.
Keep in mind, Centerpoint does not create or generate electricity, all they do is take the electricity and pass it on to customers. That was when Centerpoint started moving around electricity for certain customers. So some customers will see their power back on during the middle of the night,” he added. Mercado said Centerpoint was making good headway getting power back on to customers, but the company hit a new roadblock early Tuesday morning. Mercado said as power plants that are owned by third parties come online, they have to ramp up slowly before being at full power.
HOUSTON – If you’re realizing the power is out and you want to do all you can to stay warm, here are some ways you could use to avoid the cold. Layers, layers, layersDon’t just put a coat on. Get in your car (But NOT in your garage)If you’re cold and nothing seems to work inside your home, get in your car and idle it in your driveway. FireplacesNatural gas fireplaces and wood fireplaces are a good option for keeping a few of your main rooms warm without power. Be sure to make sure your flue is open so gas and smoke can escape from your home through your home’s chimney.
HOUSTON – If you haven’t already received your electric bill for the month of August, prepare yourself. It is typically one of the highest electric usage months of the year and a good reminder that you can lower your electric bill just by shopping for a new electric provider. Electricity prices just dropped this week, and they will keep getting lower as we begin to cool down. You are allowed to switch electric companies within 14 days of your contract end date, but sometimes it pays to switch even if you’re in a contract. When you get free nights and weekends, the retail electric company is usually charging you a higher rate.
Whether you’re shopping around for electricity or actively looking to switch providers, the experts at TriEagle Energy provided three questions to ask yourself before making any decisions. How long does a low rate last? There are some sweet, low rates advertised out there. TriEagle Energy offers customers smart energy plans that come with a smart thermostat, like the Honey Well T5 Thermostat. Learn more about what you can expect with TriEagle Energy.
