PUCurrenT
NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER
PUCT Chair Thomas J. Gleeson
PUCT Provides State Operations Center Support During Hill Country Flooding Disaster
OPE Corner: 50 Years of International Visitors
Governor Abbott, Texas Legislature Honor PUCT’s 50 Anniversary th
PUCT CELEBRATES A HALF-CENTURY OF SERVICE TO TEXAS WITH LOOK BACK AT HISTORY, MILESTONES
In commemoration of the 50 anniversary of the PUCT, we have curated a multimedia, online exhibit of the agency’s significant moments and milestones over our first 50 years. Read more th
PUCT BEGINS RULEMAKING FOLLOWING 89 TEXAS LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION TH
The PUCT is moving quickly to implement new laws passed by the 89 Texas Legislature, Regular Session, and signed into law by Governor Abbott Read more
PUCT AWARDS FIRST TWO TEXAS ENERGY FUND LOANS, SECURING MORE RELIABLE POWER FOR ERCOT GRID
This summer, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) executed the first two Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan agreements, securing 578 megawatts (MW) of new, reliable power for the ERCOT grid. Read more
CHAIRMAN’S CHAIRMAN’S CORNER CORNER
The PUCT: Serving Texans for a Half-Century
On September 2, 1975, three Texans raised their right hands, swore an oath to serve, and took jobs that did not exist in Texas before that moment. With that, George Cowden, Alan Erwin and Garrett Morris became the Public Utility Commission’s first commissioners, each appointed by Gov. Dolph Briscoe They had no staff, offices, phones, or supplies What they did have endures within the PUCT today—a deep commitment to ensuring Texans have access to reliable, affordable, life-critical utilities every day.
Attempts to create a regulatory agency with oversight of utilities date back as far as 1913 in Texas But it wasn’t until 1975 that the Texas Legislature finally passed the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), which included creation of the PUCT In the half-century since, our role and responsibilities have ebbed and flowed with the needs of Texas
Today we oversee an electric grid providing power to 90 percent of Texans. We ensure electricity costs are among the lowest in the nation by preserving the competitive market for electric consumers. And we make sure privately owned water utilities charge fair rates and keep the taps running for their customers or find someone to take them over if they can’t
We’ve marked many milestones in our first 50 years of service to Texas. In 1999, at the direction of the legislature and governor, we brought consumer choice to Texas electric customers. We put in place landmark reforms to make the electric grid more reliable and resilient than it has ever been following the tragic February 2021 winter storm. New, on-demand power plants are being built in Texas thanks to the voter-approved Texas Energy Fund loans we are administering. And importantly, jurisdiction over the economic regulation of water and sewer utilities came back to the PUCT from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in 2014.
Looking ahead to our next half-century of service, the pace of change is accelerating rapidly. Demand for life-critical resources grows daily, while innovation—especially in the electric industry—is moving at lightning speed. New technologies are evolving faster than you can flip on a light switch. For example, Texas is poised to become a national and global leader in developing advanced nuclear technology.
While so much has changed since our first three commissioners were sworn in 50 years ago, one thing perhaps the most important thing remains as strong as ever: our enduring commitment to serving our fellow Texans. I see it clearly every day in the 260-plus expert attorneys, engineers, accountants, economists, investigators, and other professionals who make up the PUCT We want the same thing all Texans want reliable and affordable utility service for the next 50 years and beyond
Thomas Gleeson
Chairman
PUCT CELEBRATES A HALF-CENTURY OF SERVICE TO TEXAS WITH LOOK BACK AT HISTORY, MILESTONES
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In commemoration of the 50 anniversary of the PUCT, we have curated a multi-media, online exhibit of the agency’s significant moments and milestones over our first 50 years
PUCT Staff broke down the Commission’s history into three distinct eras—The Early Years, Days of Deregulation, and Modern Momentum Each era features photos, videos, and documents that tell the overarching story of that period in PUCT history.
The Early Years focuses on the Commission’s build out after Gov. Dolph Briscoe appointed Chairman Garrett Morris and Commissioners George Cowden and Alan Erwin, who were sworn into office on Sept. 2, 1975. For the 50 anniversary, former Commissioner and Chairman George Cowden the only living original commissioner shared his memories about starting up the Commission th
Days of Deregulation takes a look at the major industry deregulation that occurred not once, but twice during the 1990s—starting with the telecommunicatio before moving to the electricity industr hairman Pat Wood III spoke with PUCT Staff about the massive changes that occurred during deregulation and how those changes continue to benefit Texas consumers today.
Modern Momentum focuses on the impact rapid population and economic growth has on demand for electricity and water, as well as landmark reforms the PUCT implemented in response to extreme weather events, including the February 2021 winter storm. Current Chairman Thomas Gleeson sat down to discuss lessons learned over the past several years and looks ahead to the future.
A timeline highlighting the major moments from the past 50 years rounds out the historical resources.
To learn more, visit the 50 anniversary website. th
PUCT PROVIDES STATE OPERATIONS CENTER SUPPORT DURING
HILL COUNTRY FLOODING DISASTER
PUCT Staff were on hand to provide statewide support in the State Emergency Operations Center (SOC) during the Hill Country flooding disaster Members of the agency’s Critical Infrastructure Security and Risk Management (CISRM) division joined other state emergency leaders in the SOC beginning Friday morning, July 4, to monitor electric outages, assess restoration times, and coordinate communication between local officials and impacted utilities.
In total, 5,400 customers in Kerr County were impacted by electric outages during the flooding Full restoration occurred on July 8, and CISRM staffed the SOC daily through July 16.
As part of the state’s response to the flooding disaster, the agency’s executive director, Connie Corona, provided testimony on July 23 to a joint hearing of the Senate and House Select Committees on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Corona explained to lawmakers how the PUCT assists the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) and other state agencies and local officials during emergencies.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT, TEXAS LEGISLATURE HONOR PUCT’S 50 ANNIVERSARY TH
Governor Greg Abbott has issued a statewide proclamation and the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives each have passed resolutions in commemoration of the PUCT’s 50 Anniversary and the agency’s half-century of contributions to Texas th
The proclamation and resolutions recognize the PUCT’s consumer-focused mission to ensure reliable and affordable utility services to Texans at reasonable rates. They also acknowledge the hard work of the highly skilled attorneys, engineers, accountants, economists, and professionals who daily meet the challenges of complex rate regulation, legislative implementation and rulemaking, and consumer education and complaint resolution.
To read the Texas Senate’s resolution, click here.
To read the Texas House of Representatives’ resolution, click here
PUCT BEGINS RULEMAKING FOLLOWING 89 TEXAS
LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
The PUCT is moving quickly to implement new laws passed by the 89 Texas Legislature, Regular Session, and signed into law by Governor Abbott th
It’s among the PUCT’s most ambitious rulemaking schedules ever and reflects the Legislature’s strong push to improve utility services across the state. Texans can expect significant updates as the PUCT works through this packed agenda in the months ahead.
The rulemaking priorities for the remaining months of 2025 include:
Large Load Growth Regulation:
Senate Bill (SB) 6 aims to improve the reliability of the state's electric grid in response to surging demand from large electricity consumers. It also aims to ensure transmission costs are properly charged and to protect residential customers from power outages by requiring large electricity consumers to reduce consumption during power shortages
Agency Staff held a workshop with interested stakeholders in July and two workshops in early September (one on large loads co-located with generation and another on criteria that large loads must meet for inclusion in ERCOT's load forecast, which is used in transmission planning and resource adequacy models and reports) Staff anticipate filing several rulemakings with the Commission over the next year to implement the law
More information can be found in Project No 58317
Electric Infrastructure Improvements:
In response to the Smokehouse Creek Wildfire in 2024, a suite of bills including House Bill (HB) 144, HB 145, and SB 1789 were passed to improve how electric infrastructure across the state is constructed, maintained, inspected, and operated The legislation establishes new standards for day-today utility operations and requires the development of responsive measures for wildfire events. More information about Agency Staff’s work on wildfire mitigation plans (HB 145) is available in Project No. 56789.
Agency Staff plans to begin work on a joint rulemaking for distribution pole inspection and management plans (HB 144) and electric infrastructure structural integrity standards (SB 1789) in the Fall of 2025.
Water and Sewer Service Enhancements:
Two bills SB 740 and HB 2712 promote water and sewer service investment and reliability across Texas.
SB 740 streamlines the System Improvement Charge (SIC) application process, allowing for more flexible and efficient ratemaking for water and sewer service, especially for rural and underserved areas More information about SIC implementation will be available in Project No 58391
SB 740 (along with SB 1965 from the 88th Legislative Session) also requires the Commission to create an expedited process for acquiring certain water or sewer utilities This applies to utilities that have acted as temporary managers or receivers for nonfunctioning systems, with the goal of making it easier for capable utilities to purchase and repair struggling systems across the state More information about the implementation of expedited sale, transfer, merger (STM) proceedings is available in Project No 58390 HB 2712 updates how utilities can set water and sewer service rates by authorizing the usage of future test years A test year may consist of past or anticipated future financial data, or a combination of both Test years help ensure utility rates accurately and fairly correspond with a utilities’ anticipated cost to provide service A project number for future test years will be forthcoming
Any updates to the 2025 rulemaking calendar may be found in Project No. 57606.
PUCT AWARDS FIRST TWO TEXAS ENERGY FUND LOANS, SECURING
MORE RELIABLE POWER FOR ERCOT GRID
This summer, the PUCT executed the first two Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan agreements, securing 578 megawatts (MW) of new, reliable power for the ERCOT grid
In addition to the two loan agreements already approved, there are 15 applications to the TxEF In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program moving through a due diligence review process. Together, they total 8,392 MW of proposed, dispatchable generation for the ERCOT grid.
Milestones Achieved in Other TxEF Programs
Outside ERCOT Grant Program: In August, the PUCT selected the first four Outside ERCOT Grant Program (OEGP) projects The PUCT and project sponsors are now working to reach grant agreements for each project The projects total $240,036,592 and will strengthen electric resiliency and reliability for nearly 400,000 Texas customers served by grids outside the ERCOT region
To be eligible for an OEGP award, projects must enhance modernization of infrastructure, weatherization, reliability and resiliency improvements, or vegetation management.
xas Backup Power Package: The PUCT has sted two workshops and offered three written comment periods to give the public an opportunity to participate in developing the rules for this program The PUCT is evaluating the technical requirements and funding mechanisms for backup power packages A rulemaking for this program will begin this fall
Completion Bonus Grant Program:
Two projects totaling 334 MW of new power for the ERCOT region have received notices of eligibility to receive a completion bonus grant. Companies that add at least 100 MW to the ERCOT power grid either through new construction or expansion of dispatchable power plants and meet program requirements are eligible to receive a completion bonus grant A company may only receive grant payments once the project has been completed and meets performance requirements
More information on all four TxEF programs is available on the PUCT website.
OPE CORNER: 50 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
By Mike Hoke, OPE Director
The PUCT is a popular stop for international visitors and has been for nearly our entire existence. Because Texas boasts a unique electricity market, utility regulators from around the world come to learn lessons they can apply back home. This has been especially true since the PUCT started electricity deregulation in the mid-1990s because Texas has shown how successful deregulation can be and how it boosts economic prosperity.
In late July, I had the privilege of meeting with a delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) headquarters in Austin. The delegation was led by Dr. Abdullah Hamid Al Jarwan Al Shamsi, Chairman of the UAE Department of Energy. Our conversation focused on innovation, energy security, and sustainability. In every visit like this, we all learn from each group’s ideas and experiences
These delegation visits go back to the earliest days of the PUCT. While our anniversary research team dug through the archives this spring, they discovered photos from a Japanese delegation visit during the early 1980s. While the original details for this visit and many of the earliest delegation visits to the PUCT may have faded over the years, based on my many visits, I am certain the Japanese delegation was here for the very same reasons many other delegations come to Texas.
By sharing our best practices, the PUCT has spent the past 50 years strengthening ties with utility partners around the globe. I, for one, am very proud of that.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR TEXAS: WORK WITH US!
If you want to be part of a mission-driven organization filled with Texans working for Texans, we want to work with you! It’s our job to ensure reliable, affordable, and accountable electric, water and telecom utility service for Texans and our fast-growing state.
We currently have several openings, including those for attorneys, engineers, legal assistants, and project management specialists Please visit our website for our latest career opportunities
