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HB 1231 Seeks to Gut Texas Railroad Commission


by: Todd Hill

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 01:00 PM CDT


If you thought you had little to no representation fighting on your behalf to bring affordable utility costs back to Texas consumers already, than I'm anxious to tell you about House Bill 1231.  If proponents of HB1231 get their way the Texas Railroad Commission could very well whittle the body from a committee of three to a single commissioner to meet the demands and responsibilities of this important commission.  HB1231 will authorize a constitutional amendment be placed on the ballot.  The ultimate decision would end up in the hands of Texas voters and it shouldn't even reach that point.    

At a time when main street Texans are burdened with some of the highest utility costs in the nation---to even suggest eliminating a full commission that provides differing perspectives and expertise that you don't get from a single representative is reckless and unacceptable.  It makes Texas consumers more vulnerable to gas and utility interests because lobbying one is a lot easier than lobbying three.  Unilateral decision-making versus deliberation and discussion amongst a commission of individuals is not a hard decision to make for Texas consumers.  We may not have the right people on the commission that fight for every day Texans right now, but I'll take a deliberative body over a unilateral decision-maker any day when it comes to the issues and responsibilities of the Texas Railroad Commission.    

The facts are that no commission that decides gas utility rate cases in the United States has less than three commissioners.  No commission that sets electric rates in the United States has less than three commissioners.  No commission that sets water or wastewater rates in the United States has less than three commissioners.

Gutting the commission is not the type of reckless leadership that we need right now.  We need legislation that stands up for consumers, like Rep. Chris Turner's House Bill 995 that alerts consumers 60 days in advance that their contract with their utility provider is up.  Or Senator Wendy Davis' Senate bill 1481 that allows Texas electricity consumers to purchase their electricity through volume buying at negotiated bulk-rate prices.

We need legislation passed that fights for main street Texans and not special interests.  

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The Railroad Commission's Value? (0.00 / 0)
If you follow the academic literature about the Railroad Commission, mainly the books by Prindle and Childs, the agency has usually let the industry regulate itself, except for instances when the failure to really regulate would leave the door open to federal intervention. Styling it as a watchdog for consumers is right out of the "Onion" in my opinion.  

Still . . . (0.00 / 0)
Changing from a commission where industry has to compete for the attention of three elected commissioners to a single elected commissioner seems like a significant move away from consumer protection.

[ Parent ]
Yes (0.00 / 0)
but texun is right that the status quo at the RRC is not doing much to protect consumers. This change may not be a good idea, but the Railroad Commission needs reforms.  

[ Parent ]
Of course... (0.00 / 0)
it isn't doing much to protect consumers, it is run by corrupt Republicans.  But to gut the commission because it has corrupt Republicans running it isn't good for the commission, and certainly consumers, in whole.  

Here is a novel idea, how about we field strong candidates and take back the commission as it is and restore confidence to it so that we actually do have a commission that protects consumers.

I set such high expectations.

Todd

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi


[ Parent ]
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