WEBVTT
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Thanks Alicia.
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This meeting of the
Public Utility Commission
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of Texas will come to
order consider matters
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duly hosted with the Secretary of State
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for Friday, March 12, 2021.
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I'd like to open the phone lines
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for public comment at this time.
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Alicia, can you please instruct callers
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how to get in the queue?
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Thank you,
ladies and gentlemen
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if you wish to make public comment,
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please select one, go on
your telephone keypad?
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You may withdraw your question
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at any time as the window come in.
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If you pick up the handset
before pressing the numbers
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once again, if you wish
to make public comment
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please, like one and zero at this time.
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Please keep everyone to two minutes.
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Steve we can be
respectful of everyone's time.
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Thank you.
Yes, sir.
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It's definitely a
moment while we gather
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I did this thing.
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(pages flipping)
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Can our first comment come
from the line of Al Hartman.
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Yes, thank you
very much, Mr. Chairman,
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I'm Al Hartman, the CEO
chairman of the board
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of Hartman Income Rate,
commercial property owner,
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that with 50 properties across Texas
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and Mr. Chairman,
one of our first properties
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received an energy bill last month.
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It should be billed $30,000 in a month.
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It was billed at 19 times
out of mouth $609,000.
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And that only covers the
beginning of a high cap period.
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Through Monday the 15th.
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And our industry, expensive
like these are typically
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paid by the tenants.
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We are also concerned with a high burden
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of the REPs will lead to
customers paying higher rates
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and half REPs are
gonna go out of business.
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We don't know what this whole impact
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will be on our properties
for even another two weeks.
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We still don't know.
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Haven't seen our bills cut
off the week before the storm.
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We don't even know what the whole
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but how bad it's going to be.
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But we think I might be in
the 10s of millions of dollars
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despite aggressive
cuts to cut consumptions
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that our buildings
during the winter storm
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or these scenarios put us
at a loss of 10s of millions.
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And so we're so grateful
to believe the state
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legislator make us issue in emergency
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by solving the problem.
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It's going to take time
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and I was going to take the
maker's problem harder to solve
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and the more time goes
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by make the problem harder to solve.
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So yesterday we
provide a five point plan
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of action to the
Commission and key leaders
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in the house and Senate
who free all transactions,
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terminations and Teles for
seven day period were raised
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at their highest and
above previous cap levels.
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The phrase should last
for 90 days, these requests
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are in the boundaries of ERCOT
CAC and to the PUC rules.
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The corrections by recommended
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by M N I M M are a top priority
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but that's just the fair,
absolute bare minimum
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because Mr. Chairman,
what happened here is that
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you had a software glitch
Monday and you did, you did not...
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You tried, you had to intervene
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because it was software English.
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You had an immersion
meeting Monday night,
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nobody I we so think
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nobody could attend
the rules were changed
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in the middle of the game.
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And we're not Mr. Chairman,
we're not changing the rules.
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We should be able
to rely on sound policy.
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We need to do the right
thing per Dan Patrick.
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We needed to do the right thing.
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And the generators failed as a group.
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They failed us as a group
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and they created a scarcity 100%.
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And so they failed to
produce, but they got those
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the generators failed to
produce but got the windfall.
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That was my statement, Mr. Chairman
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and I like to open it up to questions.
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Thank you so much, sir.
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I really appreciate your comment.
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You know, as I've said before
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and I want to repeat to
you that limiting the impact
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of this to rate payers
is our biggest concern.
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And I know that's the
biggest concern of legislature.
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So thank you for your
engagement on your filing yesterday
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about the freeze I was
in the Capitol all day.
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I didn't have time to review it.
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I'm going to look at that
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and give it serious
attention that it deserves.
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you, any other
questions, Mr. Chairman.
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Thank you very much.
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Any other questions?
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No, thank you.
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I appreciate you.
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God bless you and have
a great hearings morning.
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Thank you, sir, thank you.
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And next public
comment comes out.
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Elias, Carol, please go ahead.
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Yes, good morning
Chairman to Andrea.
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This is Carol, which is speaking.
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I am the retired executive
director of Texas Rose
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and I worked with Texas
Legal Services Center
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on the residential consumer
request for emergency relief
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that was filed on March 2nd,
with ART, Texas, ART taxes.
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We filed a request because
we wanted the Commission
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to prevent residential consumers
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from experiencing unnecessary costs
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and financial difficulties
because of the winter storm.
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This is after the dive they're making.
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The storm is over
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and there is still a
big mess to clean up.
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Some customers received
a monthly electric bill
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for thousands of dollars.
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Customers have reps that are filing
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for bankruptcy and are in
financial default that are caught.
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I see the Commission pay a lot
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of attention to the problems
of the generators and the rest.
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I don't see the
Commission paying attention
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to the issues faced by
residential customers.
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I've heard through the grapevine
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that the residential
request has not been viewed
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as necessary because
residential customers
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have not been coming forward
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expressing the problems
we seek to resolve.
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Well, this is the same thinking that led
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to the near collapse of the ERCOT grid.
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Let's only plan for what
we know is going to happen.
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Not long residential customers
should be held captive
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in this supposedly competitive
market because of this.
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That's not why residential
customers should be settled
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with longterm financial
injury because of this disaster.
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We did our best to present
straight forward recommendations
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to the Commission for immediate action.
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And I asked you to take
action on our request today.
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That concludes my comments that I have,
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a couple of questions
that I think the Commission
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should be answering
actively and publicly
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for residential customers.
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And those questions are
when I read files for bankruptcy
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what does this mean
for residential customers?
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If a residential customer
owes the defaulting rep money
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what happens to this debt?
(phone ringing)
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Is it possible for switch
hold to these customers
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when their account is moved to poller?
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What price can residential
customers expect
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to pay on polling rates?
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Well, any residential customers
be placed on indexed rates
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because of charges
incurred on index rate plans,
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there have been social media reports
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of extending different payment plans out
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for as long as 10 to 20 years.
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How is this fair to place a switch hold
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on residential customers
for 10 to 20 years.
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Why shouldn't these
customers be free to Twitch?
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This concludes my remarks.
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Carol, thank you so much
for all that you do and me.
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(indistinct)
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(phone alarm)
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Carol thank you so much
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for all you do on behalf of customers.
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I do appreciate it.
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You were right that they...
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We hear a lot from customers
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but you're right with the
vast majority don't contact us.
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And so the work you do to advocate
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in favor of them is very valuable to me.
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I have been getting a
lot of contacts for them
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you know, lately obviously,
and I engaged that I can.
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It's very helpful to have you advocating
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on their behalf.
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Asking the questions you asked,
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I wouldn't want to answer them now.
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I want to say anything
wrong and there's a lot
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of wrong information out
there, but I will definitely
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we'll definitely communicate the answers
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to these with customers.
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The answers to that that I do know,
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think we're paying a lot of
attention to customers in polar
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and so far we've managed to
help them make sure they ended
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up in a great place.
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And I commit to
paying attention to that.
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And my staff will too whenever
there's bankruptcies or polar
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we work very hard to make sure
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that those customers landed a good spot
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with a retail electric provider
who wants to keep them
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and therefore we'll
charge them good rates
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and not abuse them.
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So I will commit to you that
and move, push that information
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out to customers and continue to do so.
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Let's see, let me try to
address all your points.
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I think that's it, thanks Carol.
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I kinda, it
comes down the line
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as Christopher Sibley.
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Hi Commissioner,
can you hear me?
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Yes I can
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Okay, thank you.
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I'm actually a retail
residential customer
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who is on one of the
wholesale index pricing plan.
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And I was also a customer
during August of 2019.
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When we had the 9,000 megawatt pricing
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for a couple hours back then
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and I fully understood the risks going
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in through the lantern air.
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I expected to see some pricing
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that was on those cold
winter mornings where you just
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had a more expensive price.
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What we saw was not a
market-based pricing for four days
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but we saw, I don't know
what you would call it
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but just government-mandated pricing.
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So my comments are
going to be surrounding
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that my personal liabilities
were almost $33,000
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for the week of the 15th.
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One of my normal electric bills, $150.
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I was using a credit card.
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So they able to store
some of those costs
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on the credit card.
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One of my concerns is
that people who had five
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to $10,000 charges and
were using debit cards
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I'm not sure how
they're gonna have to pay
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for their food or their
rent the next month
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because that came right
of their checking account.
00:11:54.810 --> 00:11:57.400
But anyway, moving on, I
watched a couple of days
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of the Senate and House testimony
00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:04.140
it was hard to watch both, but
I watched as much as I could.
00:12:04.140 --> 00:12:07.625
I understood that the
CDC actions on the 15th
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or the order, or to try
to get the generators
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online as much generation
online as possible.
00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:16.840
What I learned from the
ERCOT president testimony
00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.790
was that there were not any
generators that were sitting
00:12:19.790 --> 00:12:24.790
on the side, everybody who
was producing was producing.
00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:29.500
And if there were
people on the sidelines
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they forced them into the
market through the rough process.
00:12:33.380 --> 00:12:35.640
I'm not that familiar
with the rough process
00:12:35.640 --> 00:12:36.940
but that was his testimony
00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:39.000
that he could have forced
generators who were sitting
00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.560
on the sidelines in the market.
00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:45.160
And so being as a CDC
mission is to protect customers,
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I just wanted to state that I
think the actions on the 15th
00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:56.840
let customers like me
unprotected instead of protected
00:12:57.580 --> 00:13:00.960
went into the situation
expecting market-based pricing,
00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.203
and the market was priced
around 12,000 per month
00:13:04.203 --> 00:13:06.770
or 1200 per megawatt.
00:13:06.770 --> 00:13:10.830
And we were less, very much unprotected
00:13:11.910 --> 00:13:14.460
which is outside of
the mission of the POC.
00:13:14.460 --> 00:13:17.830
So that's what my comment
wanted to be around.
00:13:17.830 --> 00:13:19.670
I understand that there's 28 senators
00:13:19.670 --> 00:13:22.230
and the Governor asking for repricing
00:13:22.230 --> 00:13:23.480
on some of the last couple of days
00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:27.913
of the storm after
the EA three was over.
00:13:28.850 --> 00:13:33.640
And so what I'm gonna ask
today is for the CDC to create
00:13:33.640 --> 00:13:38.640
an order for our costs to force them
00:13:38.650 --> 00:13:41.570
to reprice all of them, yours that were
00:13:41.570 --> 00:13:46.570
on wholesale index pricing
back to $1,200 a megawatt
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for the duration of the DEA three
00:13:50.990 --> 00:13:55.990
instead of the 9,000 per
megawatt, that the CDC mandated.
00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.717
I think it came up during testimony
00:13:58.717 --> 00:14:02.910
and several times that
the market was at 4,000.
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Well, I'm sorry, not 4,000, 400
00:14:05.410 --> 00:14:09.080
at the beginning of the reprice.
00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.920
And I think that that consumers
00:14:11.920 --> 00:14:14.020
who were on wholesale
index pricing plans,
00:14:14.910 --> 00:14:17.489
I think that's a fair price today.
00:14:17.489 --> 00:14:22.489
It's 1200 per megawatt and
that's something that families
00:14:22.870 --> 00:14:27.550
and individuals can handle,
but 9,000 per megawatt
00:14:27.550 --> 00:14:31.990
for four days, people can't pay that.
00:14:31.990 --> 00:14:35.490
And yeah, and that's not
something that was even based
00:14:35.490 --> 00:14:37.150
upon the prices iteration,
00:14:37.150 --> 00:14:39.063
that was just government mandated.
00:14:40.430 --> 00:14:44.200
So one of the things I did
also learn, and this testimony
00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:47.560
of the Senate was that
the CDC has full authority
00:14:47.560 --> 00:14:51.990
and autonomy to direct her
classes pretty much do anything.
00:14:51.990 --> 00:14:56.499
So I'm asking the PUC to create an order
00:14:56.499 --> 00:15:01.100
to reprice those meters
about 40, 50,000 customers
00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.520
per the four days.
00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:04.700
And I understand that
that's gonna be a lot of work
00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:06.977
but I see the importance,
00:15:06.977 --> 00:15:09.730
I came up with who those customers are
00:15:09.730 --> 00:15:12.040
and what they should revise too.
00:15:12.040 --> 00:15:14.600
But you saw that they did
on Monday when they went in
00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.527
and made a code
change and they tested it
00:15:16.527 --> 00:15:18.650
and they got it live in one day,
00:15:18.650 --> 00:15:21.380
they surely can handle this repricing.
00:15:21.380 --> 00:15:22.870
You know, they might not want to that.
00:15:22.870 --> 00:15:25.610
I'm sure that I see the
apartments can handle it.
00:15:25.610 --> 00:15:26.540
That's all I have to say.
00:15:26.540 --> 00:15:28.224
Thank you for the time
00:15:28.224 --> 00:15:29.710
Thank you for the time, Chris.
00:15:29.710 --> 00:15:32.780
We obviously, there's a
lot of attention being paid
00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:37.780
to the 40,000 wholesale index
plan customers in the state.
00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:40.370
And it's definitely
something we're watching.
00:15:40.370 --> 00:15:42.830
We are investigating those plans.
00:15:42.830 --> 00:15:46.079
The attorney general is point on this
00:15:46.079 --> 00:15:48.023
and definitely stands,
00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:51.970
has the resources and I'm
watching that very closely
00:15:51.970 --> 00:15:53.530
and have offered our assistance
00:15:53.530 --> 00:15:57.410
in any way to your pre pricing comment.
00:15:57.410 --> 00:15:59.830
You know, unfortunately
repricing can't help you.
00:15:59.830 --> 00:16:01.880
We're going to have to
help you some other way.
00:16:01.880 --> 00:16:03.770
And the reason is gritty has gone.
00:16:03.770 --> 00:16:06.910
Those plans have left the market.
00:16:06.910 --> 00:16:10.000
And so I can't, they
don't exist anymore.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.733
So even if I repriced,
00:16:12.690 --> 00:16:15.820
that money wouldn't go back
to them and it wouldn't make
00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:18.570
it to you, but we're trying
to help you in other ways.
00:16:18.570 --> 00:16:20.490
And I'm definitely gonna
keep an eye on this.
00:16:20.490 --> 00:16:21.323
Thank you.
00:16:34.430 --> 00:16:36.420
Can I
ask another question?
00:16:36.420 --> 00:16:37.253
Sure
00:16:38.728 --> 00:16:42.670
How do I
stay plugged into say,
00:16:42.670 --> 00:16:43.503
you mentioned trying to help
00:16:43.503 --> 00:16:45.650
out in some other ways, and I understand
00:16:46.550 --> 00:16:49.420
that a repricing wouldn't
help or I understand now
00:16:49.420 --> 00:16:54.310
because he said that I
don't, I say, well then to
00:16:54.310 --> 00:16:56.840
what are some of those
other ways that you're
00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:58.670
trying to help those customers?
00:16:58.670 --> 00:17:00.670
How do I stay plugged
into what's going on
00:17:00.670 --> 00:17:03.093
and how to get information from that?
00:17:05.829 --> 00:17:07.320
I don't want to take
your personal information
00:17:07.320 --> 00:17:10.080
over this open line, reach out to me
00:17:10.080 --> 00:17:13.020
or to our consumer
protection division is step one.
00:17:13.020 --> 00:17:15.453
And we can keep you plugged in.
00:17:16.370 --> 00:17:18.600
And we're obviously gonna communicate
00:17:18.600 --> 00:17:19.940
with the public as we go through that.
00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:23.750
And so the attorney
general, I'm sure you know,
00:17:23.750 --> 00:17:25.240
but outside of that,
00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:28.280
I've talked to a bunch
of gritty customers
00:17:28.280 --> 00:17:31.200
and they most of them share
with me that there's some,
00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.210
I think some Facebook
page where they follow this
00:17:34.210 --> 00:17:38.250
and it's sort of a gritty customer
Facebook support group
00:17:38.250 --> 00:17:39.830
and communication.
Yeah, I'm on that.
00:17:39.830 --> 00:17:40.663
Okay, good.
00:17:40.663 --> 00:17:42.267
I think I'm aware of that.
00:17:42.267 --> 00:17:44.060
And so I know, I think
we'll pay attention.
00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:44.940
I know that's out there
00:17:44.940 --> 00:17:47.283
and we can use that to
communicate with you guys too.
00:17:49.280 --> 00:17:50.300
Okay, thank you.
00:17:50.300 --> 00:17:51.590
Okay, great.
00:17:51.590 --> 00:17:54.180
I'll send you an email
then, but the follow up
00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.240
and I appreciate your time.
00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.140
Okay, thank you,
00:17:58.948 --> 00:17:59.920
Is there any
other comment?
00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:01.770
Please, press one, two, zero at this.
00:18:02.875 --> 00:18:06.423
Any comment comes from our
John Reds, please go ahead.
00:18:08.571 --> 00:18:10.450
Good morning,
this is John Reds,
00:18:10.450 --> 00:18:11.283
I'm the Vice President
00:18:11.283 --> 00:18:13.853
with a property management corporations,
00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:18.750
I want to start off by
saying that we support
00:18:18.750 --> 00:18:22.350
all the comments that Al
Hartman communicated earlier
00:18:22.350 --> 00:18:25.500
at reviewed his requests
for Commission action
00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:28.240
that he submitted, and
we support all those points.
00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.840
I think they're very sound
and very well thought out
00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:36.700
by way of a comparison, the
effect that we've developed
00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:41.690
at our company, our
customers last year, 2020
00:18:41.690 --> 00:18:44.870
we paid about 9.3
million and utility charges.
00:18:44.870 --> 00:18:47.490
We're looking at about
12 million just for the period
00:18:47.490 --> 00:18:52.390
of this severe event
that in turn gets passed
00:18:52.390 --> 00:18:57.090
through in large part to tenants
who are already struggling
00:18:57.090 --> 00:19:00.550
through the effects of the
COVID over the last year.
00:19:00.550 --> 00:19:03.150
And so we've burst
along for the last year.
00:19:03.150 --> 00:19:07.450
It says didn't have a
PPP loans, disaster loans
00:19:07.450 --> 00:19:08.880
and now to get hit with this
00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:11.310
I think it's just gonna be a disaster
00:19:11.310 --> 00:19:14.730
for thousands of our small
and mid-sized tenants.
00:19:14.730 --> 00:19:19.650
So I think the independent
market evaluation
00:19:19.650 --> 00:19:22.640
that recommended a correction
of the pricing at the end
00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.650
of the week needs to
be done as a first step.
00:19:25.650 --> 00:19:29.180
And it needs to be
even more done, frankly.
00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.210
I'm not sure how this is
00:19:30.210 --> 00:19:33.790
in price gouging under
the emergency declaration
00:19:33.790 --> 00:19:36.010
and unjust enrichment is some
00:19:36.010 --> 00:19:39.160
of the pipeline companies,
the gas providers
00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:41.770
and some of the generators.
00:19:41.770 --> 00:19:43.270
We've owned hotels in the past,
00:19:43.270 --> 00:19:46.930
and the minute there's a storm
and an emergency declaration
00:19:46.930 --> 00:19:48.150
we get a fax or email
00:19:48.150 --> 00:19:49.960
from the attorney
General's office telling us
00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:51.430
if we raise rates
00:19:51.430 --> 00:19:55.100
of hotel is going to be
prosecuted for price gouging.
00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:56.690
I don't think you can raise rates
00:19:56.690 --> 00:20:00.390
like this in disaster and
passing these expenses
00:20:00.390 --> 00:20:04.230
to customers and expect them to bear it.
00:20:04.230 --> 00:20:06.420
This needs to be fixed.
00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:08.510
The pricing needs to be corrected,
00:20:08.510 --> 00:20:10.740
errors need to be corrected
00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:14.120
or you're gonna have massive disaster
00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:17.580
among all the not only the
rate payers, but the customers
00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:18.780
they pass it through to.
00:20:20.699 --> 00:20:22.930
That's the end of my
comments today, thank you.
00:20:22.930 --> 00:20:23.800
Thank you, sir.
00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:26.693
I very much appreciate your comments.
00:20:27.580 --> 00:20:31.660
And again, something we're
spending a lot of time worrying
00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:36.660
about and thinking about, and
as to the price gouging point,
00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:40.770
it is my understanding,
like I know this to be true.
00:20:40.770 --> 00:20:43.650
The Attorney General
has opened an investigation
00:20:43.650 --> 00:20:47.620
into the point you made,
and I have offered him
00:20:47.620 --> 00:20:49.940
and continue to offer
him whatever resources
00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.540
this agency can provide to help.
00:20:57.190 --> 00:20:58.130
All right, thank you.
00:20:58.130 --> 00:20:59.130
Thank you.
00:21:02.266 --> 00:21:05.173
I think there are
no further public comment.
00:21:05.173 --> 00:21:07.170
Thank you very much Alicia.
00:21:07.170 --> 00:21:12.170
Okay, we have no, I guess,
00:21:12.330 --> 00:21:14.610
I guess I'm walking
through the Consent Agenda.
00:21:14.610 --> 00:21:16.373
I don't want a lot to be taken up.
00:21:18.534 --> 00:21:21.370
I have two project number
five, one eight one two.
00:21:21.370 --> 00:21:22.743
This is storms.
00:21:24.970 --> 00:21:27.230
This is all I think the
only project we'll be talking
00:21:27.230 --> 00:21:31.520
about today, we talked
about this a little bit last time
00:21:31.520 --> 00:21:32.467
but I just want to say
it again that we went
00:21:32.467 --> 00:21:36.030
through an emergency
00:21:36.030 --> 00:21:40.160
and staff performed excellently
and on very short notice
00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:43.430
we had multiple emergency open meetings
00:21:43.430 --> 00:21:46.780
to address all the emergencies
that were rising out of
00:21:48.780 --> 00:21:51.550
the physical harm that
was happening to Texans.
00:21:51.550 --> 00:21:54.920
And then after that,
the market problems.
00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:58.970
And so I'm very grateful
for everyone acting that way.
00:21:58.970 --> 00:22:03.200
And you, it was really a
lot of heroic actions by staff
00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:05.640
particularly the
folks at the call center
00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:07.850
just working through Texans,
00:22:07.850 --> 00:22:09.640
working through Texans
and so one at a time.
00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:12.140
And I know that was really difficult
00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:15.360
and heartbreaking,
but we need to get back
00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:19.300
to a more deliberative
mode now with the agency.
00:22:19.300 --> 00:22:24.240
And that means it
means let's try to stop
00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.820
doing everything on an emergency basis.
00:22:25.820 --> 00:22:28.223
Try to get filings, try
to deliberate more,
00:22:30.070 --> 00:22:31.830
hear from all sides.
00:22:31.830 --> 00:22:36.080
I at one point in the, I
mean, it was necessary.
00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.850
I am not criticizing what we
did, but I don't want us to get
00:22:38.850 --> 00:22:41.387
in the habit and realize,
"Well, we did it that way."
00:22:41.387 --> 00:22:42.730
And that seems to streamline.
00:22:42.730 --> 00:22:43.563
Let's keep doing that.
00:22:43.563 --> 00:22:46.060
I wanna make sure we remember
00:22:46.060 --> 00:22:48.280
that this agency works
best when it's a little breaks.
00:22:48.280 --> 00:22:51.300
So there's nothing
particular that I'm pointing to.
00:22:51.300 --> 00:22:52.140
Now, I just wanna...
00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:53.690
I think we should all
keep reminding each other,
00:22:53.690 --> 00:22:55.873
that let's get back to normalcy.
00:22:58.336 --> 00:22:59.470
So several items to sort through
00:22:59.470 --> 00:23:01.870
on our onboarding storm response.
00:23:01.870 --> 00:23:03.198
First, I wanna remind everyone
00:23:03.198 --> 00:23:04.670
that we have up to
seven different projects
00:23:04.670 --> 00:23:07.983
to explore, particular
matters related to the storm.
00:23:07.983 --> 00:23:10.960
I'll have Connie talk about
them later, if that's okay.
00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:12.023
In the other meeting.
00:23:14.610 --> 00:23:15.860
Related to that,
00:23:15.860 --> 00:23:18.570
I got a letter from
representative Vicky Goodwin
00:23:18.570 --> 00:23:21.640
and I'm very grateful for her
engagement on these issues.
00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.560
One, she asked us
00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:25.470
about the Texas legal services filing
00:23:25.470 --> 00:23:28.770
that was actually addressed in
comments just a moment ago.
00:23:28.770 --> 00:23:31.020
And I'll say the same
thing I've been reviewing it.
00:23:31.020 --> 00:23:32.470
There's a lot of stuff in it.
00:23:33.767 --> 00:23:34.740
And they're interesting arguments
00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:36.483
and some stuff I think
we can do some stuff.
00:23:36.483 --> 00:23:38.970
I think we might have need laws to do.
00:23:38.970 --> 00:23:41.620
I'm not sure, but we're
still looking at that.
00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:44.740
So thank you for bringing
that to my attention again.
00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:47.333
The other she addressed
was people on life support.
00:23:48.188 --> 00:23:49.620
Apparently there's some accounts
00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:50.870
of people on life support
00:23:51.904 --> 00:23:53.530
that were not designated critical load.
00:23:53.530 --> 00:23:56.940
And therefore whose power
was turned off during the storm
00:23:56.940 --> 00:24:00.080
which is obviously
something that cannot happen.
00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:02.610
So I just wanna flag that issue.
00:24:02.610 --> 00:24:05.850
I know we have a project
open already, 5188,
00:24:05.850 --> 00:24:07.670
which addresses making sure
00:24:07.670 --> 00:24:10.120
that our critical load
is properly designated.
00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:12.170
And I just kindly wanna make sure
00:24:13.060 --> 00:24:15.350
that I assume this is on there,
but I wanna make very sure
00:24:15.350 --> 00:24:18.400
that it is because I think
it's an important issue.
00:24:18.400 --> 00:24:20.571
Absolutely.
Thank you, Connie.
00:24:20.571 --> 00:24:23.600
And thank you representative Goodwin.
00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:27.940
Next, I have clean up
items from last week.
00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:32.120
We had an order here that we did not get
00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:35.600
since the order of clawing
back money from generators
00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.960
who failed to perform
ancillaries, not failed.
00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.793
That's pretty wrong
00:24:38.793 --> 00:24:40.120
who did not perform
the ancillary services
00:24:40.120 --> 00:24:41.290
that we paid them for,
00:24:41.290 --> 00:24:43.960
this was an issue we
discussed and voted on
00:24:43.960 --> 00:24:45.390
I think last week
00:24:45.390 --> 00:24:47.860
but we didn't get the order
signed before Shelly left.
00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:50.840
And so I'm gonna now sign one.
00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.860
That's just mine.
00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.693
And we'll go ahead
00:24:52.693 --> 00:24:54.740
and reissue that order
under my signature.
00:24:56.770 --> 00:25:01.770
Next, last week, also we talked about
00:25:01.870 --> 00:25:04.970
how there were invoice dispute timelines
00:25:04.970 --> 00:25:08.300
at ERCOT that were
jamming some people up
00:25:08.300 --> 00:25:09.870
because they didn't
know if it was 10 days
00:25:09.870 --> 00:25:11.520
or it was longer period.
00:25:11.520 --> 00:25:16.110
And so or had asked us to issue an order
00:25:16.110 --> 00:25:18.830
clarifying and extending
the shorter deadlines
00:25:18.830 --> 00:25:22.950
to give people a little more
time to dispute their billing.
00:25:22.950 --> 00:25:25.477
And so I had the order
here and it looks good to me.
00:25:25.477 --> 00:25:28.950
So I'm gonna sign that
after the meeting as well.
00:25:28.950 --> 00:25:31.520
Sherry, can we
just sort of knowledge
00:25:31.520 --> 00:25:32.830
there's a draft order filed
00:25:32.830 --> 00:25:35.440
or ancillary services and
you're approving that order?
00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.770
Yes.
And that there's
00:25:36.770 --> 00:25:38.700
a draft order on these invoice timelines
00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:40.274
and you're approving that one.
00:25:40.274 --> 00:25:41.640
That's a good way to do it.
00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.980
Thank you, Stephen.
00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:44.080
So yes we did.
00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:47.000
Steven did have these words filed.
00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:49.510
They did the docket
so people can see them.
00:25:49.510 --> 00:25:53.460
And I approved both the
order on ancillary services
00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:58.043
and the order extending invoices
through timelines at ERCOT.
00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:03.820
Chairman, staff also
recommends that archive issue
00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:07.300
a market notice describing the order
00:26:07.300 --> 00:26:10.190
and how they plan to
implement any changes
00:26:10.190 --> 00:26:14.389
in the timelines in detail
with, through a market notice.
00:26:14.389 --> 00:26:15.930
I think that's a great
recommendation, Connie.
00:26:15.930 --> 00:26:17.320
So yes, I agree.
00:26:17.320 --> 00:26:21.420
ERCOT should issue a market
notice as Connie described.
00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.253
Thank you.
00:26:23.760 --> 00:26:25.090
A third item we have before us
00:26:25.090 --> 00:26:29.490
is the topic of
generator confidentiality.
00:26:29.490 --> 00:26:33.661
ERCOT asked generators
to waive the 60-day visit.
00:26:33.661 --> 00:26:36.530
There's a 60 day
confidentiality provision
00:26:36.530 --> 00:26:39.010
where the date on which generators ran
00:26:39.010 --> 00:26:42.698
and which ones didn't is
confidential for 60 days.
00:26:42.698 --> 00:26:45.390
ERCOT asked generators
to waive that confidentiality
00:26:45.390 --> 00:26:48.780
requirement and submit the
data because this is an issue
00:26:48.780 --> 00:26:51.977
of public importance and
we need that information
00:26:51.977 --> 00:26:53.420
and the public need that information.
00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:55.380
I get it already,
obviously in the legislation.
00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:58.340
I think you can see that
and the IMM can see it
00:26:58.340 --> 00:27:02.850
but there are academics
at UT for instance,
00:27:02.850 --> 00:27:04.410
that are looking at this stuff closely.
00:27:04.410 --> 00:27:08.160
And I need them as many
eyes on this as possible
00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:10.200
the best to figure out, to parse
00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:12.520
that the raw data and
figure out what went best.
00:27:12.520 --> 00:27:15.610
And so I'm grateful to the
generators that waived it
00:27:15.610 --> 00:27:18.920
but it looks to me like a lot didn't,
00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.910
not a lot, actually I
think the majority did
00:27:20.910 --> 00:27:24.780
but some didn't I forget
the number 80 and 80.
00:27:24.780 --> 00:27:28.430
And so we have an order in our docket
00:27:28.430 --> 00:27:31.370
that orders ERCOT to set aside
00:27:31.370 --> 00:27:33.970
that 60 day confidentiality provision.
00:27:33.970 --> 00:27:36.160
So that's not, it's no
longer confidential
00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.560
and it will be posted the same way
00:27:37.560 --> 00:27:39.640
that he posted the other stuff.
00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:42.710
So that now all the generator
outage data will be public
00:27:42.710 --> 00:27:44.410
and available on our past website.
00:27:45.330 --> 00:27:47.150
So that order is in our dockets.
00:27:47.150 --> 00:27:48.473
And I approve that order.
00:27:53.750 --> 00:27:57.680
Fourth, I want to encourage customer
00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:59.410
we've talked about this
in the past, and I've talked
00:27:59.410 --> 00:28:01.110
about this a lot with legislators,
00:28:02.270 --> 00:28:03.960
we're communicating
through all our outlets
00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.793
but I want to say it
00:28:04.793 --> 00:28:06.500
at an open meeting
because it's important.
00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:08.460
I would encourage
people to call your reps
00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.870
and get on it for a payment plan.
00:28:09.870 --> 00:28:10.820
I know it's scary.
00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.807
I owe money.
00:28:11.807 --> 00:28:13.660
And it was the last thing
you want to do is pick
00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.493
up the phone
00:28:14.493 --> 00:28:17.580
and call someone you owe
money to and know that sucks.
00:28:17.580 --> 00:28:20.050
But if you ignore it
00:28:20.050 --> 00:28:22.300
and we've seen this
before the Commission,
00:28:22.300 --> 00:28:25.360
we failed Texans this
way before in the past,
00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:30.030
when we issued no disconnect
orders, it becomes very easy
00:28:30.030 --> 00:28:33.850
for people to deprioritize
that bill, because you know
00:28:33.850 --> 00:28:36.640
your lights are cut off and
that's the state right now.
00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.810
We've said, no, cut anyone off.
00:28:38.810 --> 00:28:41.227
And so I get that.
00:28:41.227 --> 00:28:42.060
You're going to de-prioritize
00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:43.830
that you can't let
those bills accumulate
00:28:43.830 --> 00:28:45.070
because we've seen this in the past
00:28:45.070 --> 00:28:47.180
and people won't pay for
six months and seven months.
00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:49.520
And then you have a $5,000 electric bill
00:28:49.520 --> 00:28:50.760
and it becomes a huge problem.
00:28:50.760 --> 00:28:53.090
So your reps, what do you keep you.
00:28:53.090 --> 00:28:55.690
They pay a lot of money per customer
00:28:55.690 --> 00:28:58.530
main advertising to bring customers in.
00:28:58.530 --> 00:29:00.090
They don't want to lose you.
00:29:00.090 --> 00:29:01.200
Please call them.
00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.880
They will set up a deferred payment plan
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:05.970
that will help you out and
you can get it sorted house.
00:29:05.970 --> 00:29:07.270
Please do that, thank you.
00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:12.093
Free project 51825,
00:29:13.710 --> 00:29:14.543
Here I want to go first.
00:29:14.543 --> 00:29:19.240
I wannna announce and thank
Adrian, Brandon, Brad Jones
00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:24.240
who this agency has brought
on and they will go over
00:29:24.390 --> 00:29:29.390
to ERCOT and make sure that
this agency and ERCOT are rowing
00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:31.420
in the same direction
when it comes to figuring
00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:35.050
out what went wrong and making
sure it never happens again.
00:29:35.050 --> 00:29:36.580
Adrianne's position is director
00:29:36.580 --> 00:29:39.040
of her Cod countability
rattled be working with her.
00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:41.113
I am so grateful to both of them.
00:29:42.589 --> 00:29:44.195
You know, they don't need this job.
00:29:44.195 --> 00:29:47.790
This is them Adrian was retired
00:29:47.790 --> 00:29:49.490
and but she happens to be
00:29:49.490 --> 00:29:52.010
one of the foremost experts
on that, our top market.
00:29:52.010 --> 00:29:53.900
And I know she would
rather stay in retirement
00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:57.420
and I begged her
pleaded with her to come
00:29:57.420 --> 00:30:00.720
out and she was a public
servant, like no other.
00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:03.520
And she agreed to do it for Texans.
00:30:03.520 --> 00:30:04.803
And so I'm so grateful to both of them.
00:30:04.803 --> 00:30:07.320
Brad is the same, but
he doesn't need this
00:30:07.320 --> 00:30:09.570
and I'm going to keep
them as long as I can.
00:30:09.570 --> 00:30:11.720
And I'm so grateful
for the service, Texas.
00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:16.350
Connie, you I think you're out.
00:30:16.350 --> 00:30:18.860
Why once you please take
us through the seven projects
00:30:18.860 --> 00:30:20.420
maybe more now that we have open
00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.770
and sort of give us a status report
00:30:22.770 --> 00:30:25.520
on the work that staff is doing.
00:30:25.520 --> 00:30:30.350
Absolutely, and for the
parties reference the items
00:30:30.350 --> 00:30:35.340
I'm about to cover are filed
both in 51825 and 51812
00:30:36.470 --> 00:30:38.190
as what we're calling right now,
00:30:38.190 --> 00:30:41.390
the roadmap to move forward.
00:30:41.390 --> 00:30:46.390
So essentially staff
has heard, of course
00:30:48.389 --> 00:30:51.880
from individual consumers,
the stakeholders in the market
00:30:51.880 --> 00:30:53.993
Commissioners, the legislature,
00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:58.583
any number of interested parties,
00:30:59.520 --> 00:31:03.760
we've tried to categorize the types,
00:31:03.760 --> 00:31:07.270
the topics that we'll be
looking into going forward,
00:31:07.270 --> 00:31:10.170
how we make sure this
never happens again
00:31:10.170 --> 00:31:14.590
and I've provided a memo address to you.
00:31:14.590 --> 00:31:18.630
And to those interested
parties scoping the very
00:31:18.630 --> 00:31:21.520
broad areas that these cover.
00:31:21.520 --> 00:31:25.190
And I would like to note,
and it does say in the memo
00:31:25.190 --> 00:31:29.740
that these are not a
one-to-one correlated
00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:31.853
with individual Commission projects,
00:31:32.830 --> 00:31:37.640
some of these focus areas
have multiple projects associated
00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:40.530
with them, and conversely,
00:31:40.530 --> 00:31:42.830
some individual Commission projects
00:31:42.830 --> 00:31:45.510
will touch on more than one focus area,
00:31:45.510 --> 00:31:50.510
but it's these chunks are
categories that I think will best
00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:57.720
help us organize our thoughts
and plans moving forward.
00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:02.720
And we would like to invite
parties who are interested
00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:08.600
in giving us their public
comments and in, and sharing
00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:10.490
in our deliberative process.
00:32:10.490 --> 00:32:15.490
As you mentioned early
in the meeting to use these
00:32:16.490 --> 00:32:21.490
as guideposts along along
the road to our work here.
00:32:21.930 --> 00:32:24.937
So the first of these is
generation weatherization
00:32:24.937 --> 00:32:26.963
and emergency operations.
00:32:28.530 --> 00:32:33.530
This is going to include a
weatherization standards,
00:32:33.810 --> 00:32:36.770
emergency operations
standards, and it has two
00:32:36.770 --> 00:32:39.830
specific projects associated with it.
00:32:39.830 --> 00:32:42.630
Rulemakings on both of those topics.
00:32:42.630 --> 00:32:44.233
Or each of those topics rather.
00:32:46.250 --> 00:32:49.210
The second one is interesting.
00:32:49.210 --> 00:32:54.210
I had an extensive analysis
and writeup was created
00:32:55.750 --> 00:33:00.430
by our director of
infrastructure, Keith and his staff.
00:33:00.430 --> 00:33:05.430
And they made an excellent
point that we need to look
00:33:06.930 --> 00:33:09.440
at essential generation load.
00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:13.310
So you spoke earlier of critical load.
00:33:13.310 --> 00:33:16.290
And I think today that has focused
00:33:16.290 --> 00:33:21.290
on and users to who power is critical.
00:33:21.750 --> 00:33:26.750
And we also as this event has
taught us need to work our way
00:33:29.050 --> 00:33:34.050
up the supply chain and look
at loads of people, businesses
00:33:36.450 --> 00:33:40.340
drawing electric power
that is in fact essential
00:33:40.340 --> 00:33:44.423
to keeping everyone else
able to draw electric power.
00:33:46.823 --> 00:33:49.850
So these are businesses that provide
00:33:49.850 --> 00:33:53.270
an essential service to keep
power plants up and running.
00:33:53.270 --> 00:33:55.490
So gas processing
00:33:55.490 --> 00:33:58.900
certain chemicals that
that power plants are needs
00:33:58.900 --> 00:34:00.790
or run and that type of thing.
00:34:00.790 --> 00:34:05.790
So we'd like to sort of establish
that as a standalone look
00:34:08.090 --> 00:34:11.230
at critical load of special
type of critical load.
00:34:11.230 --> 00:34:16.210
And there are two
projects related to that.
00:34:16.210 --> 00:34:19.300
First, is our electric and
gas coordination project.
00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:23.090
And in that we will
be looking at the work
00:34:23.090 --> 00:34:28.090
of the ERCOT gas electric
working group, the TERC
00:34:28.130 --> 00:34:31.320
the Texas Energy Reliability Council,
00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:35.730
and work associated
with those two groups.
00:34:35.730 --> 00:34:37.040
Along with other discussions here
00:34:37.040 --> 00:34:40.423
at the Commission that relate
to electric gas coordination.
00:34:41.670 --> 00:34:43.700
This second is a review
00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:46.220
of critical load
standards and processes.
00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:48.040
And that's where we'll look at.
00:34:48.040 --> 00:34:50.670
In addition to the end
use customers who depend
00:34:50.670 --> 00:34:55.670
on receiving electricity
for their life at home
00:34:57.820 --> 00:35:02.060
or their business, say a
hospital or a police station,
00:35:02.060 --> 00:35:06.990
we will also review these
businesses that are critical
00:35:06.990 --> 00:35:09.880
to keeping the power
plants up and running.
00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.760
That leads us
00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:14.930
on to assist a central
customer load and load shed.
00:35:14.930 --> 00:35:19.930
Those are our sort of
traditional critical load customers.
00:35:21.020 --> 00:35:24.080
And you know, one of the key things
00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:29.883
that we need to do is
determine how we can have
00:35:30.741 --> 00:35:35.741
a two way check point,
00:35:36.160 --> 00:35:39.840
so that not currently the
way it works, of course
00:35:39.840 --> 00:35:44.420
is a customer who has electricity
00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:49.420
as a critical need for life or
for public safety operations.
00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:53.060
They initiate the process
00:35:53.060 --> 00:35:55.410
and they bring that to the utility.
00:35:55.410 --> 00:35:57.320
We need to come up
00:35:57.320 --> 00:36:02.160
with a method to double
check that on both sides.
00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:05.340
So for the utility and others
00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:07.280
in the community that are aware
00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:11.950
of this critical need to
help get that process rolling
00:36:11.950 --> 00:36:14.490
so that we can ensure
we identify absolutely
00:36:14.490 --> 00:36:17.200
everyone who has a
critical need for electricity.
00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:19.040
So that's gonna be a key point
00:36:19.040 --> 00:36:21.513
and in our critical load process.
00:36:23.140 --> 00:36:27.050
I'd like to put a load
shed in this category too.
00:36:27.050 --> 00:36:31.520
And this relates to the rolling outages,
00:36:31.520 --> 00:36:33.860
you know what allocation is appropriate
00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:38.860
the duration of any rolling
outages that are required,
00:36:39.160 --> 00:36:42.640
how can we make those rolling outages
00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:44.303
for example, more granular.
00:36:45.680 --> 00:36:47.670
I'd like to, for an example,
00:36:47.670 --> 00:36:52.670
there during the event,
Thomas, our executive director
00:36:54.530 --> 00:36:57.350
contacted the Texas
facilities Commission
00:36:57.350 --> 00:37:00.750
and they were able to
switch state buildings
00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:05.950
to a, for lack of a better
phrase, low power mode.
00:37:05.950 --> 00:37:08.060
So that we only had safety lighting
00:37:08.060 --> 00:37:11.410
on our thermostats were
turned way down, things like that.
00:37:11.410 --> 00:37:14.580
We'd like to explore how
we can reduce the load
00:37:14.580 --> 00:37:17.020
on the system from commercial buildings
00:37:17.020 --> 00:37:19.493
buildings like that in a similar way.
00:37:22.090 --> 00:37:26.090
The next category is ERCOT operations.
00:37:26.090 --> 00:37:27.623
This relates to,
00:37:28.520 --> 00:37:32.640
how ERCOT operates
the grid and in particular
00:37:35.990 --> 00:37:38.840
their designation of
emergency conditions
00:37:38.840 --> 00:37:42.840
and what's the appropriate
standards are there.
00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:45.520
There clearly Nerf the
North American Electric
00:37:45.520 --> 00:37:49.830
Reliability Council
prescribes the definitions
00:37:49.830 --> 00:37:51.920
of the energy emergency alerts.
00:37:51.920 --> 00:37:56.920
But whether the ERCOT protocols
implement those definitions
00:37:58.690 --> 00:38:00.230
in a way that's appropriate for Texans
00:38:00.230 --> 00:38:02.080
this is something we like to look at.
00:38:03.990 --> 00:38:06.933
Next is communications and governance.
00:38:08.160 --> 00:38:12.997
This relates to communications
among all parties
00:38:12.997 --> 00:38:17.997
in the electric market,
utilities, retailers, municipals,
00:38:18.110 --> 00:38:20.857
cooperatives, the Commission,
the legislature, the public
00:38:20.857 --> 00:38:25.857
the media, all communications
amplifying emergency messages
00:38:27.010 --> 00:38:32.010
among these parties and ensuring
00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:34.410
that Texans get the
information they need
00:38:34.410 --> 00:38:36.543
when I into an emergency is eminent.
00:38:37.550 --> 00:38:42.550
Similarly, the archive governance
process communications
00:38:44.710 --> 00:38:49.710
among those stakeholder groups
and participation and working
00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:55.220
through the stakeholder
protocol making process
00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:58.723
is definitely something
that requires examination.
00:39:00.240 --> 00:39:05.240
The next one on the
list is market settlements.
00:39:05.600 --> 00:39:10.600
This is how ERCOT
handles the financial aspects
00:39:10.950 --> 00:39:15.763
of the market, whether
the rules are appropriate,
00:39:17.730 --> 00:39:22.090
whether the uplift makes make sense.
00:39:22.090 --> 00:39:24.020
And now that we know what we know
00:39:24.020 --> 00:39:26.773
in terms of having
worked through this event.
00:39:28.110 --> 00:39:31.420
The remaining two items
are wholesale market design
00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.973
and the retail market.
00:39:34.720 --> 00:39:36.970
Wholesale market design,
00:39:36.970 --> 00:39:39.740
we'll look at things like...
00:39:39.740 --> 00:39:41.227
We'll look at the rules
of the Commission
00:39:41.227 --> 00:39:43.850
and the protocols of
ERCOT as they relate
00:39:43.850 --> 00:39:45.600
to the wholesale electric market
00:39:46.990 --> 00:39:49.223
including pricing mechanisms.
00:39:50.470 --> 00:39:54.463
Finally, retail market
is where we'll examine.
00:39:55.631 --> 00:39:57.890
I think a lot of the
items we've heard from
00:39:57.890 --> 00:39:59.850
on the public comment today,
00:39:59.850 --> 00:40:04.354
that the types of products
that are appropriate,
00:40:04.354 --> 00:40:09.354
the disclosures associated
with them, customer protections,
00:40:11.051 --> 00:40:14.240
for example, at the beginning of COVID,
00:40:14.240 --> 00:40:16.590
and then during this emergency,
00:40:16.590 --> 00:40:21.590
we invoked a set of
emergency customer protections
00:40:22.370 --> 00:40:24.800
during each of those disasters.
00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:27.900
Should there be a defined set of those,
00:40:27.900 --> 00:40:30.290
that we flipped the switch on
00:40:30.290 --> 00:40:32.860
whenever a disaster arises.
00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:33.840
That's an example
00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:36.693
of a question we would
discuss in that topic.
00:40:38.060 --> 00:40:38.893
That's it.
00:40:38.893 --> 00:40:39.726
Thank you so much.
00:40:39.726 --> 00:40:41.310
Thank you so much, Connie.
00:40:41.310 --> 00:40:45.620
I know those are all
very important items
00:40:45.620 --> 00:40:46.690
and I know it's a lot
00:40:46.690 --> 00:40:48.090
and I know that you guys can handle it.
00:40:48.090 --> 00:40:50.770
And I'm very proud of
the work you're doing.
00:40:50.770 --> 00:40:52.740
Thank you, sir.
00:40:52.740 --> 00:40:57.740
Next, I asked Hortest last week
00:40:58.210 --> 00:41:02.320
or two weeks ago to just start
00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:05.700
up a forensic audit of the
ERCOT market process.
00:41:05.700 --> 00:41:08.758
And I'd like him to give us
a very brief update on that
00:41:08.758 --> 00:41:10.440
just to make sure we
keep our eyes on it.
00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.480
Sure, thank you chairman.
00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:15.210
So I've had conversations
with deputy comptroller,
00:41:15.210 --> 00:41:18.260
Lisa Craven, and the
Sao with Lisa Collier.
00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:22.620
They advise me and gave me
contacts at different audit shops
00:41:22.620 --> 00:41:25.883
around town, through
conversations with them,
00:41:26.738 --> 00:41:28.160
what was told to me, it
would be most important
00:41:28.160 --> 00:41:32.000
was really refining our
scope of work on this.
00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:35.730
So we are internally to
refine that scope as best
00:41:35.730 --> 00:41:38.340
as possible with Adrian
and Brad and staff,
00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:41.480
so that we can truly look
at the settlement process
00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:43.460
and all the finances
that are taught the goal
00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:47.036
at this point is to have
something ready to post an RFP
00:41:47.036 --> 00:41:48.860
by the end of next week, I've been told
00:41:48.860 --> 00:41:52.160
by an expedited
timeline with that posting,
00:41:52.160 --> 00:41:53.330
we can get a report
00:41:53.330 --> 00:41:56.440
by the end of the legislative
session to numbers.
00:41:56.440 --> 00:41:57.389
That's great.
00:41:57.389 --> 00:41:59.055
Thank you for that.
00:41:59.055 --> 00:42:00.336
I think that scoping is very important
00:42:00.336 --> 00:42:02.134
and it's important to think
about it ahead of time,
00:42:02.134 --> 00:42:04.985
because I know what this is
just, I know you agree with me.
00:42:04.985 --> 00:42:06.300
Like, I don't want it
to just be a show on it.
00:42:06.300 --> 00:42:09.180
It's like, see, we're working,
look, we audited the mic.
00:42:09.180 --> 00:42:11.060
Like let's get some real
good stuff that we can give
00:42:11.060 --> 00:42:12.290
to the legislature.
00:42:12.290 --> 00:42:14.010
And I think scoping it right.
00:42:14.010 --> 00:42:17.420
Yeah, and I think there's
an EDA down quickly,
00:42:17.420 --> 00:42:18.897
but as with most things
00:42:18.897 --> 00:42:19.890
I think it's important to get it.
00:42:19.890 --> 00:42:21.800
Not just right now, but also right.
00:42:21.800 --> 00:42:23.410
And so that that's the aim of this.
00:42:23.410 --> 00:42:24.910
Great, excellent, thank you.
00:42:26.000 --> 00:42:28.297
Okay, well, we're not gonna
be taking up items four or five
00:42:28.297 --> 00:42:31.490
six, seven, eight, nine,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
00:42:31.490 --> 00:42:33.050
Who said that better?
00:42:33.050 --> 00:42:36.000
Steven, I guess we have no
reason to have a closed session.
00:42:37.630 --> 00:42:39.228
No, sir, I don't think we did.
00:42:39.228 --> 00:42:42.040
Okay, and with that...
00:42:42.040 --> 00:42:45.103
Oh is there anything else
before I adjourn, anybody?
00:42:46.010 --> 00:42:48.040
Let me just make
note to one of the callers
00:42:48.040 --> 00:42:49.320
about how to keep engaged.
00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:52.770
We have started a February
2021 Winter Event Page
00:42:52.770 --> 00:42:54.040
on our website,
00:42:54.040 --> 00:42:56.700
we are going to have
updates on projects on there
00:42:56.700 --> 00:42:58.390
and we're also gonna do an FAQ.
00:42:58.390 --> 00:43:01.260
So a lot of questions
from like Carol Budzinski.
00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:03.150
We will put on there and have answers to
00:43:03.150 --> 00:43:06.350
so we can get information out to public.
00:43:06.350 --> 00:43:07.183
That's excellent.
00:43:07.183 --> 00:43:09.189
Thank you very much, Thomas.
00:43:09.189 --> 00:43:10.189
Anyone else?
00:43:11.027 --> 00:43:12.256
Okay, with that, this meeting
00:43:12.256 --> 00:43:14.663
with Public Utility Commission
of Texas is adjourned.