Texas Electric Choice information for residential and small business customers
Find a REP
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) can provide
you with the names of retail electric providers (REPs) who
are certified to market to customers in your area. Please contact
the PUCT at 1-866-PWR-4-TEX (1-866-797-4839).
All REPs must be certified by the PUCT and registered with AEP in order to sell power to you.
Price to Beat
If you did not actively select a new REP, effective with
your January 2002 meter reading date you began to receive
electricity supply from either WTU Retail Energy or CPL Retail
Energy. If you are
a residential customer or a business customer with load
demand of 1 megawatt or less, you are eligible for Price
to Beat service. According to Texas' restructuring
legislation, Price
to Beat rates are an average of 6% lower than the rates
that were in effect Sept. 1, 1999. The 6% reduction does
not apply to the cost of fuel used to generate the electricity
you use.
REPs must offer you a price that is lower than the Price to Beat in order to save you money on your electric bill. Of course, you may want to consider factors other than price in your selection of a new REP.
Your electric bill
Your new REP will bill you for its charges and the charges
for services provided by AEP. Your REP will tell you where
and how to pay that bill. Different REPs may offer different
payment options (by mail, in person, via the internet, through
funds transfer from your bank account, etc.), so be sure
to ask your new provider what options it offers.
The look of your bill will vary depending upon who you select as your REP. However, all REPs must provide certain information on their bills. This information will include itemized charges for the various services you receive, a phone number to call if you have questions about your bill and a phone number to call if your service is interrupted.
What to do when your lights go out
Your REP will give you a phone number to call if your
lights go out.
For helpful tips on being prepared for a service interruption, visit www.aepcustomer.com/lightsout.
Customer protections
Customers also have the right to ward off unwanted telemarketing
calls by being placed on a Do Not Call List. The PUCT
or its agent will maintain this list. Customers will be required
to pay a nominal fee to be on the Do Not Call List.
Companies will protect consumers' privacy in other ways as well. For example, companies generally cannot release customers' proprietary information without obtaining the customers' authorization.
If a REP stops supplying you with electricity for any reason, you will not lose your electric service. You then may choose a new provider or a Provider of Last Resort (POLR) will be appointed to provide regulated service until you can make other arrangements.
Additionally, a customer can be dropped to POLR service for non-payment. Effective March 10, 2004, your REP can authorize a service disconnect, to be carried out by the local distribution utility, for non-payment of the electric bill.
Programs for low-income customers
Texas' restructuring legislation provides specific programs
to help low-income customers. These programs include a low-income
discount and targeted energy efficiency programs.
Low-income discounts may be available to eligible customers. Additional price reductions will range from 10% to 20%, as determined annually by the PUCT. Information about the rate reduction program and how to enroll is available by calling the PUCT at 1-866-PWR-4-TEX (1-866-797-4839).
Targeted energy efficiency programs also may be available to qualifying customers of companies that offer electric choice.
These programs for low-income electricity customers are funded by a portion of the System Benefit Fund. a non-bypassable fee set by the PUCT and paid by retail electric providers, except in those areas that have not adopted customer choice.
Aggregation
An aggregator is an entity that helps create an electricity-buying
group. An aggregator may be able to get lower prices or other
benefits for the group and its members by buying power in
bulk. Electricity buying groups may consist of existing organizations,
or new groups formed just to buy electricity for their members.
Aggregators must be registered with the PUC.
A list of licensed aggregators is available from the PUCT.
Efficiency programs
Texas' electric industry restructuring legislation includes
goals for energy efficiency and conservation. The state's
investor-owned utilities must achieve their goals by providing programs
to help reduce energy consumption and customer energy
costs. These include programs for Hard to Reach (low-income)
customers, Standard Offer programs for various customers
types, and the Efficient Windows program. For more information go to www.AEPefficiency.com
