HB 1231 Seeks to Gut Texas Railroad Commission

by: Todd Hill

Mon Apr 27, 2009 at 01:00 PM CDT

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.