Electricity customers in North Texas are looking for answers regarding their sky-high electricity bills following the winter storm.
Costs for some residents went up when the power was on and also for some when it was turned off during the extreme weather, Fox 4 reported Friday.
“Unless you’re in a variable rate plan, you should not see a change in your energy rate. When it comes time for a new contract, we may see higher prices,” the outlet said.
Arlington resident Ty Williams and his family did not lose power but did receive a $17,000 electric bill for three meters during a five-day period of use. Williams is a Griddy customer.
“Griddy gives customers real-time access to the power grid wholesale. But this week, wholesale prices were so high they hit a state-imposed cap,” the Fox article read.
Although the Williams family conserved as much electricity as possible, their bill was huge.
“Griddy urged their customers late last week to switch companies before the storm because of a high price forecast,” the report said, adding that Williams tried repeatedly but prospective providers told him a switch would take about a week.
Yes, this “renewable” energy is cheap isn’t it?
This hasn’t anything to do with renewable energy.
When Texas deregulated some people chose to buy their power from
companies who were in the resale business. There are lots of plans out there and unfortunately people didn’t read their contract and chose to go with the company they thought was going to save them money.
There have been complaints for years to the Public Utility Commission but because Texas has their own grid a lot of wealthy people have gotten wealthier as the majority of the power comes from natural gas powered plants. Hopefully the consumers will now read the fine print and the Public Utility Commission will do their job and look into the
complaints. I lived in Texas for 25 years and was fortunate enough to be on a co-op therefore I didn’t have to worry about being blindsided with a huge electric bill but I know people who did not choose wisely and got burnt a couple of times by these companies.
Guess one could put a line through TX for retirement purposes!!!
(snicker snicker)