It's time to do something

After seeing too many sky-high electric bills, I did some research on rates across Texas. Back in 2002 a new Texas law (Senate Bill 17) went into effect that opens many markets and allows electricity competition in the state of Texas. The idea was for companies to compete for business, thus bringing down the cost of electricity to many Texans.

Here we are six years later and people in "competitive" markets are now paying the highest rates for electricity. I did a comparison of rates across Texas ans here is a sample of my results, starting with the "competitive" rates as of most recent available rates (June 2008)


Competitive Markets:

RELIANT ENERGY

• Flex 500 kw usage: $76.00 1000kw usage: $147.00
• Secure 100% Texas Wind 500 kw usage: $81.50 1000kw usage: $158.00
• Secure Savings 24 500 kw usage: $78.75 1000kw usage: $153.00
  

TXU ENERGY

• EarthWise 500 kw usage: $86.84 1000kw usage: $166.72
• Texas Choice 12 500 kw usage: $84.44 1000kw usage: $163.43
  
• Texas Choice 24 500 kw usage: $81.92 1000kw usage: $158.39

AMIGO ENERGY

• Deep Discount 500 kw usage: $92.50 1000kw usage:$185.00
• Online Offer, Twelve-Month Commitment 500 kw usage:$77.00 1000kw usage:$154.00
• Truly Fixed, Twelve-Month Commitment 500 kw usage:$82.00 1000kw usage:$164.00

Non-Competitive Markets (monopoly)

Entergy Texas (Southeast Texas) 500 kw usage: $63.32 1000kw usage: $122.55
El Paso Electric 500 kw usage: $63.10 1000kw usage: $121.67
SWEPCO North Texas 500 kw usage: $57.72 1000kw usage: $101.62



Magic Valley COOP(Our area) 500 kw usage:$77.54 1000kw usage: $140.08


Utility Districts (Government Run)

Austin Energy (City of Austin) 500 kw usage: $42.02 1000kw usage: $99.38
CPS (San Antonio) 500 kw usage: $51.51 1000kw usage: $104.75
City of San Marcos 500 kw usage: $51.92 1000kw usage: $95.33

*Source: Texas Public Utility Comission Website


Jut why is the Rio Grande Valley area with some of the highest poverty rates in the US paying some of the highest rates for electricity in Texas?

It's time something be done about this an we copy the success of the other three cities of Texas and form a regional utility district. One was also formed in California composed of Sacramento County and parts of surrounding counties. See Sacramento County Municipal Utility District for more information on their low rates also.