Congressman Gonzalez Blasts State of Texas and ERCOT on High Utility Bills

MCALLEN, Texas – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15) blasted the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and the state of Texas for its failures following the devastating winter storms last week and called for reimbursements for Texans in response to outrageously high utility bills.

"Every day Texans should not have to suffer as a result of the failures of PUCT and ERCOT. This entire catastrophe could have been avoided if investments had been made in winterizing our power grid and there was not an insistence on the extreme deregulation of the energy market. On top of the sustained damage and lack of water, Texans are faced with skyrocketing utility bills, some in the tens of thousands of dollars, because of increased demand for energy. While PUCT and the state government have directed energy providers to temporarily stop disconnecting electricity from customers who have been unable pay, the state must now take on the cost of these bills and reimburse Texans. The Texas Rainy Day Fund exists for these exact circumstances. Our leaders have a responsibility to take care of our fellow Texans so they do not pay the price for the state's failure."