What is an electric coop?

Co-op customers elect a board of directors at yearly membership meetings. The board sets the policies for the operation of the co-op system. Suppose a co-op chooses not to offer choice to its customers. In that case, the PUC will only regulate it for limited purposes, such as wholesale transmission rates, service area certification, and certain reports. Co-ops that offer choice set their retail rates through their board of directors. Most co-ops have been setting their retail rates before 1999. The PUC also no longer regulates customer service for co-ops. Call your utility's customer service number if you have problems or questions. For co-ops, the decision to offer choice can only be revoked if no co-op customer has opted for choice within four years of adoption.

What is a municipality?

Similarly, municipality customers elect the city council members that operate the utility or appoint a board to manage electricity. Over 5.1 million Texans receive electricity from 72 Municipally Owned Utilities (MOUs), approximately 15 percent of the state's population. A municipally owned utility maintains wires, poles, and meters, acquires power supplies, and provides service to customers, whether residential, commercial, or industrial. A few larger municipally-owned utilities own and operate electric power plants. Municipally owned utilities are governed by local authorities, which set rates and policies based on community priorities.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers - accounting for about 90 percent of the state's electricity demand. It is ERCOT's job to schedule power on the transmission lines and other generation units that connect 52,615 miles of transmission lines in the region. Additionally, it performs financial settlements for competitive bulk-electricity markets and manages retail switching for approximately eight million premises. The Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas legislature oversee ERCOT, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors.

What if I favor competition?

It is important for those who live in areas without retail electric choice to contact or write their city council members to voice their views. You can find your city council members and contact information on your city's official website.

What can I do if my area doesn't have electricity choice?

If you favor competition and live in an area closed off to retail electric choice, you should call or write your city council members and make your views known.

Does the PUC regulate municipalities and cooperatives?

Municipal retail rates are under PUC appellate jurisdiction, but wholesale transmission rates are under Commission jurisdiction. Municipalities that opt into the competitive market are subject to the same market rules as all other retailers. As of Sept. 1, 1999, the PUC will only regulate a co-op for limited purposes, such as wholesale transmission rates, service area certification, and reports.

How are municipality or cooperative rates set?

As of Sept. 1, 1999, cooperatives set retail rates through their boards. Most co-ops have been setting their retail rates before 1999. City council members or the governing body determine retail rates in municipalities. The Commission sets transmission rates for municipalities and cooperatives.

Do municipalities and cooperatives provide electric services outside their service areas?

No. A muni or co-op that does not offer retail electric choice in its own service area may not offer service outside that area.

If my municipality or co-op joins the competitive market, how will I know?

The information will most likely be included in your electric bill. Alternatively, you can ask the muni or co-op.

Compañías eléctricas municipales, cooperativas y autoridades fluviales de Texas

No encuentro mi dirección

Si busca electricidad pero no encuentra su dirección, es posible que viva en una zona de Texas cerrada a la competencia eléctrica.

Los tejanos que viven fuera de la red ERCOT o en zonas atendidas por empresas municipales (como Austin Energy), cooperativas eléctricas y autoridades fluviales dependen de un único proveedor.

Elección de electricidad al por menor

Desgraciadamente, sólo alrededor del 80% del estado de Texas está actualmente abierto a la competencia eléctrica.

El otro 20% del estado comprende zonas que funcionan como empresas eléctricas de propiedad municipal o cooperativas eléctricas que no participan en la opción eléctrica.

Las empresas eléctricas municipales y las cooperativas eléctricas (coops) pueden participar en el mercado eléctrico minorista, pero optan por no hacerlo.

Debido a la insuficiente competencia, la ley estatal ha retrasado la competencia en las ubicaciones gestionadas por Entergy Gulf States, Southwestern Public Service Company, El Paso Electric Company y AEP SWEPCO.

La Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas (PUC) puede permitir la elección en estas zonas en el futuro si cambia el mercado competitivo de la electricidad.

Compare Power apoya firmemente la elección y la competencia para los consumidores.

Si vive en una de estas zonas, póngase en contacto con su municipio o cooperativa para obtener más información.

Más informacióndesregulación del mercado eléctrico de Texas.

What is an electric coop?: Co-op customers elect a board of directors at yearly membership meetings. The board sets the policies for the operation of the co-op system. Suppose a co-op chooses not to offer choice to its customers. In that case, the PUC will only regulate it for limited purposes, such as wholesale transmission rates, service area certification, and certain reports. Co-ops that offer choice set their retail rates through their board of directors. Most co-ops have been setting their retail rates before 1999. The PUC also no longer regulates customer service for co-ops. Call your utility's customer service number if you have problems or questions. For co-ops, the decision to offer choice can only be revoked if no co-op customer has opted for choice within four years of adoption.
What is a municipality?: Similarly, municipality customers elect the city council members that operate the utility or appoint a board to manage electricity. Over 5.1 million Texans receive electricity from 72 Municipally Owned Utilities (MOUs), approximately 15 percent of the state's population. A municipally owned utility maintains wires, poles, and meters, acquires power supplies, and provides service to customers, whether residential, commercial, or industrial. A few larger municipally-owned utilities own and operate electric power plants. Municipally owned utilities are governed by local authorities, which set rates and policies based on community priorities.

Actualmente, la PUC mantiene la jurisdicción sobre las tarifas de transmisión mayorista en los municipios.

Si un municipio opta por participar en el mercado competitivo, estará sujeto a las mismas reglas de mercado que todos los demás participantes minoristas.

Los miembros del ayuntamiento, o el órgano de gobierno, fijan las tarifas minoristas para los municipios.

Una vez que un municipio entra en el mercado competitivo de la electricidad, no puede revocar la elección de sus clientes.

Memorandos de entendimiento, cooperativas y autoridad fluvial de Texas

Servicios públicos municipales

Austin Energy
Ciudad de Bartlett
Bastrop Power & Light
Ciudad de Bellville
Ciudad de Boerne
Ciudad de Bowie
Ciudad de Brady
Ciudad de Brenham
Ciudad de Bridgeport
Ciudad de Brownfield
PUB de Brownsville
Servicios públicos de Bryan, Texas
Ciudad de Burnet
Ciudad de Caldwell
Ciudad de Castroville
Ciudad de Coleman
Servicios públicos de College Station
CPS Energía
Ciudad de Cuero
Electricidad Municipal de Denton
Ciudad de Electra
Ciudad de Farmersville
Ciudad de Flatonia
Sistema Eléctrico y de Alumbrado de Floresville
Ciudad de Floydada
Ciudad de Fredericksburg
Garland Power & Light
Sistemas de servicios públicos de Georgetown
Ciudad de Giddings
Ciudad de Goldsmith
Ciudad de Goldthwaite
Ciudad de Gonzales
Ciudad de Granbury
Sistema eléctrico de Greenville
Ciudad de Hallettsville
Ciudad de Hearne
Ciudad de Hemphill
Ciudad de Hempstead
Ciudad de Hondo
Ciudad de Jasper
PUB de Kerrville
Ciudad de Kirbyville
Ciudad de La Grange
Ciudad de Lampasas
Ciudad de Lexington
Ciudad de Liberty
Ciudad de Livingston
Ciudad de Llano
Ciudad de Lockhart
Lubbock Power & Light
Ciudad de Luling
Ciudad de Mason
Ciudad de Moulton
Servicios públicos de New Braunfels
Ciudad de Newton
Ciudad de Robstown
Ciudad de San Agustín
Ciudad de San Marcos
Ciudad de San Saba
Ciudad de Sanger
Ciudad de Schulenburg
Ciudad de Seguin
Ciudad de Seymour
Ciudad de Shiner
Ciudad de Smithville
Ciudad de Timpson
Ciudad de Tulia
Ciudad de Waelder
Ciudad de Weatherford
Ciudad de Weimar
Ciudad de Whitesboro
Ciudad de Yoakum

Cooperativas

Cooperativa Eléctrica Bluebonnet
Cooperativa Eléctrica de Fayette
Cooperativa Eléctrica Pedernales

Agencias de Acción Conjunta

Agencia Municipal de Energía Eléctrica de Sam Rayburn
Agencia Municipal de Energía de Texas
Agencia Municipal de Energía Eléctrica del Oeste de Texas

Autoridad Fluvial

Autoridad del Bajo Río Colorado (LCRA)

La red eléctrica ERCOT

Texas es el único estado de los 48 contiguos que cuenta con su propia red eléctrica. Es una de las tres redes más importantes de Estados Unidos: la Interconexión del Este, la Interconexión del Oeste y la Interconexión de Texas.

ERCOT administra la interconexión de Texas, que incluye 213 de los 254 condados de Texas.

What is ERCOT?: The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers - accounting for about 90 percent of the state's electricity demand. It is ERCOT's job to schedule power on the transmission lines and other generation units that connect 52,615 miles of transmission lines in the region. Additionally, it performs financial settlements for competitive bulk-electricity markets and manages retail switching for approximately eight million premises. The Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas legislature oversee ERCOT, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation governed by a board of directors.

Texas cuenta con varios tipos de entidades que suministran electricidad.

La competencia minorista fue introducida en gran parte del área de servicio de ERCOT por la Legislatura de Texas en 1999.

Aproximadamente el 90 % de la carga eléctrica total de ERCOT proviene de estas áreas «competitivas».

Los generadores venden electricidad a empresas de servicios públicos propiedad de inversionistas y a proveedores minoristas de electricidad (REP), que la compran al por mayor.

Texas tiene más de 60proveedores de electricidad conprecios variables y opciones, incluyendoenergía renovable.

Empresas de transmisión y distribución son propietarias de los postes, las líneas eléctricas y los medidores que suministran electricidad a los hogares, las empresas y otras instalaciones que la adquieren de los REP.

Las cooperativas eléctricas, las autoridades fluviales y los municipios fuera de la red ERCOT dependen de un único proveedor de servicios.

Seis de las veinte ciudades más grandes de Texas, incluida San Antonio, mantienen sus propios servicios públicos.

What if I favor competition?: It is important for those who live in areas without retail electric choice to contact or write their city council members to voice their views. You can find your city council members and contact information on your city's official website.

Preguntas frecuentes

What can I do if my area doesn't have electricity choice?: If you favor competition and live in an area closed off to retail electric choice, you should call or write your city council members and make your views known.
Does the PUC regulate municipalities and cooperatives?: Municipal retail rates are under PUC appellate jurisdiction, but wholesale transmission rates are under Commission jurisdiction. Municipalities that opt into the competitive market are subject to the same market rules as all other retailers. As of Sept. 1, 1999, the PUC will only regulate a co-op for limited purposes, such as wholesale transmission rates, service area certification, and reports.
How are municipality or cooperative rates set?: As of Sept. 1, 1999, cooperatives set retail rates through their boards. Most co-ops have been setting their retail rates before 1999. City council members or the governing body determine retail rates in municipalities. The Commission sets transmission rates for municipalities and cooperatives.
Do municipalities and cooperatives provide electric services outside their service areas?: No. A muni or co-op that does not offer retail electric choice in its own service area may not offer service outside that area.
If my municipality or co-op joins the competitive market, how will I know?: The information will most likely be included in your electric bill. Alternatively, you can ask the muni or co-op.