Bohac Files Consumer Protection Legislation
Series of Bills will protect consumers and promote competition in retail electricity market
AUSTIN, TEXAS - State Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston) has filed a series of bills intended to protect, educate, and provide transparency for retail electricity consumers in Texas. House Bills 1797, 1798 and 1799 will require electric providers to include information that will clarify electricity usage and charges in monthly statements, encourage competition in the retail electric market, and educate consumers on how to find lower rates, if available, through other providers.
Bohac, elected to his first term in 2003, was not a member of the legislature when deregulation of the retail electricity market was enacted in the late 1990s, but he understands that consumers have become increasingly uneasy.
“I have always believed that a good leader is a good listener, and that’s why I have filed legislation that will correct some of the issues in our current deregulation laws, and will work to promote competition in the marketplace,” said Bohac.
HB 1798 will require providers of month-to-month variable rate plans to include the price of electricity consumed (per kilowatt hour) for the current month, for the previous month, and an estimated rate for the upcoming month on monthly billing statements.
“This requirement will provide greater predictability for consumers,” Bohac said. “It also will encourage electric providers to keep prices low at the risk of losing customers who will be able to view their electric rates over a broader period of time and have a clearer idea of what they’re spending.”
To provide consumers with easier access to competitive information, Bohac also has filed HB 1799, which would require that electric providers include the statement, “For more information about your electric service, please visit www.powertochoose.com,” on the first page of all monthly statements in 14-point, easy-to-read print.
“This will serve as a constant reminder to consumers that there may be lower rates they can take advantage of by ‘shopping’ the competition,” Bohac said. “This legislation is designed to keep consumers informed of the changing market and give them the tools to find the best plans in their area.”
HB 1797, also filed by Bohac, requires that consumers who have fixed-price contracts with electric providers be notified at least one billing cycle in advance that their contract will soon expire and also be given information about other options if they choose not to renew their contract. This is an important piece of legislation because after a contract ends, a consumer rolls over to a variable plan whose rates can fluctuate dramatically.
In addition to this series of bills, Bohac is currently working on legislation that would require all retail electric providers of month-to-month variable price plans to include all introductory and promotional rate plans on www.powertochoose.com. Consumer protection in the retail electric market is a major legislative priority for Rep. Bohac.
“By providing more information to consumers and shining a ‘bright light’ on the practices of electric providers, people can select electric providers that best meet their needs and budget,” said Bohac.