did not have the legal right during the freezeout to force electricity customers to overpay for electricity. The PUC had allowed ERCOT to set record-high wholesale pricing — $9,000 per megawatt-hour rate during the storm and part of its aftermath. This was a 650% jump from normal rates.A $10B natural gas backup power plan advances in Texas SenateNobody should have made billions off the death and destruction of our state during the dayslong blackouts.
“It would be phenomenally difficult to rewind all of that and put it back the way it was,” continued Lewin, who producesMichael J. Jewell, an Austin energy lawyer representing an electricity generating company in the lawsuit, explained how it could work. Even though this matter is now more than two years old, Jewell said hurt parties, because of the PUC’s alleged illegal action, should still be entitled to some kind of court-approved relief.
The PUC and ERCOT, citing the pending appeal, declined to talk to me about the case. Same goes for the Texas Attorney General’s office, which is representing the PUC in the case. No comment from it either.