Who’s Who in the Texas Electricity Market: The PUCT
By energy_linguist, September 8, 2009, FAQs, News
Today, we're posting the first part of a 5-part series explaining the different entities in the Texas electricity market. We'll start with the PUC of Texas, and move on to ERCOT, the REP, the TDSPs and on to power generators. So, let's get started…
What is the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) and it's role in Texas electricity? I can tell you from hours of previous research into deregulation and the Texas energy market in general, that the PUCT has hand in a wide ranging swath of the state's competitive and regulated electric market.
The PUCT is essentially a consumer advocacy and protection agency, more specifically a state agency responsible for the regulation of electric and
telecommunications services. It ensures that not only your electricity service is maintained at a high quality and safe level, but that competition fosters benefit versus poor business practice.
In relation to electric service, the PUC regulated rates and terms of service for transmission and distribution, the ERCOT market (85 percent of the state's electric load is maintained by ERCOT) and manages the state's renewable energy resources, among other duties in the electricity AND telecommunications market.
The PUCT does not regulate:
- Long distance
- Wireless telecommunications service
- Gas
- Water
- Cable TV rates and content
- Rates established by municipal electric utilities
- Rates established by electric cooperatives
- Internet
- ISDN
More information on the PUCT's role in other areas of the Texas electricity market to come.
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