PUCT assesses $188,745 in penalties for electric rule violations

AUSTIN The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) assessed $105,750 in penalties and secured $82,995 in market refunds related to 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. 56210: A settlement agreement with a retail electric provider for rule violations related to disconnecting customers’ service without proper notice (16 TAC § 25.483). The utility agreed to pay an administrative penalty of $81,750.
• Docket No. 56378: A settlement agreement with an electric utility for rule violations related to electric service quality standards (16 TAC § 25.52). The utility agreed to pay an administrative penalty of $24,000.
• Docket No. 56459: A settlement agreement with an energy company for rule violations related to scheduling, bidding, and operating resources in a manner inconsistent with ERCOT procedures (§ 25.503(e)(2)). The utility agreed to repay $82,994.52 in excess revenues it received due to the violation. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will distribute the repaid revenue using a method that will be determined in Docket No. 56641.

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 open meeting is available here on the PUCT website. The next PUCT open meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.