Texas. Public Utility Commission

The Texas Public Utility Commission was created in 1975 by the Public Utility Regulatory Act, House Bill 819, 64th Legislature, Regular Session. The Commission assumed its regulatory duties on January 1, 1976. The Commission is composed of three salaried members, appointed by the governor with concurrence of the Senate to six-year overlapping terms. The governor designates the chair. For two years prior to their appointment the commissioners may not have served as officers, directors, owners, employees, partners, or legal representatives of any public utility or affiliated interest, and may not have owned stocks or bonds worth $10,000 or more in a public utility, affiliated interest, or direct competitor of a public utility.

The Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates telecommunication and electric services in Texas. It has original jurisdiction over electric utilities that operate in unincorporated areas of Texas, local exchange telephone companies, and several river authorities in the state. In September 1995, electric and telephone cooperatives received the option of requesting that their rates be deregulated and some have done so. The generating facilities of the Lower Colorado River Authority were also removed from PUC jurisdiction.

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