Texas

Legislative activities

“In June 2007, Governor Perry signed legislation that set an Efficiency Portfolio Standard (EPS) and encourages utilities to deploy demand response (HB 3693). The EPS applies to residential and commercial customers and directs utilities to reduce their customers’ consumption.” [1]

Regulatory activities

Texas was one early with deregulation of their electric power markets, for that reason there are multiple options for customers wishing to take third party electric service. The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates the rates the utilities charge not third party electric service so more options are available to customers who take part in third party electric service through a retail electric provider (REP). The Commission however has dealt with Time of Day rates for business as early1979 and residential rates by 2001. Demand-side management was established as early as 1979, with the Independent System Operator, ERCOT, later establishing load reduction programs separate from the utilities. With lots of industry in Texas distributed generation has always been around. Most distributed generation in Texas chooses to participate within the ERCOT power markets, but by 1998 some utilities did have rate schedules for qualifying facilities. [2, 3, 4, 5]

“In September 2008, the Commission filed with the Texas Legislature, in compliance with a law enacted in 2005, its second report on AMI—“Report to the 81st Texas Legislature: A Report on Advanced Electric Metering as Required by House Bill 2129”. The Commission concluded in its report that deploying AMI is a “critical component of the evolving Texas electric market,” not least of which because it enables demand response.” [1]

Time of Day, or Time-of-Use rate break the cost for electricity into periods on a seasonal basis with either critical peak, on-peak, or off-peak pricing.

Demand-side management includes interruptible accounts, where with notification the company can de-energize the customers electric equipment as contracted.

Distributed generation includes generation qualifying facilities and are paid based on published on-peak and off-peak yearly Avoided Energy Cost Estimates, or as contracted with the company.

Utilities and Rate Schedules

AEP Texas Central Company & AEP Texas North Company
- AEP Texas Central Company & AEP Texas North Company Rates

Cap Rock Energy

CenterPoint Energy
- CenterPoint Energy Rates

El Paso Electric
- El Paso Electric Residential Rates
- El Paso Electric Business Rates

Entergy Texas, Inc.
- Entergy Texas, Inc. Residential Rates
- Entergy Texas, Inc. Business Rates

Oncor
- Oncor Rates

Sharyland Utilities, L.P.
- Sharyland Utilities, L.P. Rates Brady,Celeste, Colorado City & Stanton
- Sharyland Utilities, L.P. Rates Mission/McAllen

Texas-New Mexico Power Company
- Texas-New Mexico Power Company Rates

Xcel Energy
- Xcel Energy Residential Rates

See the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) for information on consumer-owned Cooperatives: http://www.nreca.org/members/MemberDirectory/Pages/default.aspx

State-Level Incentives

Texas offers tax deductions and exemptions, loans, utility rebates, and grants and rebates on solar, water, geothermal and wind energy.

More information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=TX

Additional Resources

State Energy Office:
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts State Energy Conservation Office

State Authority Dealing with Energy Regulation:
- Public Utility Commission of Texas
- Docket Search: http://www.puc.state.tx.us/agency/SiteSearch.aspx

Texas Statutes

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE): http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?re=1&ee=1&spv=0&st=0&srp=1&state=TX

References

[1] Demand Response and Smart Metering Policy Actions Since the Energy Policy Act of 2005: A Summary for State Officials, Prepared by the U.S. Demand Response Coordinating Committee for The National Council on Electricity Policy, Fall 2008. URL: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/NCEP_Demand_Response_1208.pdf
[2] The Electric Company, El Paso Electric, Commercial and Industrial Tariffs. URL: http://www.epelectric.com/tx/business/rate-tariffs-1
[3] Entergy, Entergy Texas, Inc., Residential Rate and Rider Schedules. URL: http://www.entergy-texas.com/your_home/tariffs.aspx
[4] Entergy, Entergy Texas, Inc., Commercial and Industrial Rate and Rider Schedules. URL: http://www.entergy-texas.com/your_business/business_tariffs.aspx
[5] Tariff for Retail Delivery Service, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC. URL: http://www.centerpointenergy.com/staticfiles/CNP/Common/SiteAssets/doc/CNP%20Retail%20Del%20Tariff%20Book.pdf