Huge energy company bills denounced

AUSTIN: Texas utility regulators will temporarily ban power companies from billing customers or disconnecting them for nonpayment, after the deadly winter storm that caused widespread blackouts, Governor Greg Abbott said yesterday.

Abbott called an emergency meeting with state representatives on Sunday after reports of many customers receiving bills for thousands of dollars for just a few days’ electricity service.

‘‘Texans who have suffered through days of freezing cold without power should not be subjected to skyrocketing energy bills,’’ he said yesterday.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas would order electricity companies to pause sending bills to customers, and would issue a temporary moratorium on disconnection for nonpayment, he said.

The state would use the time to find a way to protect utility customers.

Texas has a deregulated energy market that lets consumers choose between scores of competing providers.

Some providers sell electricity at wholesale prices that rise in sync with demand, which skyrocketed as the recordbreaking freeze gripped a state unaccustomed to extreme cold, killing at least two dozen people and knocking out power to more than 4 million at its peak; 30,000 people were still without power yesterday.

Some Texans still connected to power found themselves with bills of $US5000 ($NZ6841) for a fiveday period, according to photos of invoices posted on social media.

The Dallas Morning News said one provider had urged its customers to switch suppliers ahead of the storm to avoid high prices, but many found it would take too long to do so.

‘‘The bill should go to the state of Texas,’’ Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said yesterday.

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said both the state and the Federal Government should help with the bills.

Senator Ted Cruz, forced to cut short a family jaunt to a Mexican beach resort after public outrage, distanced himself from the freemarket system he had previously praised.

‘‘No power company should get a windfall because of a natural disaster, and Texans shouldn’t get hammered by ridiculous rate increases for last week’s energy debacle.’’

❛ Texans who have suffered through days of freezing cold without power should not be subjected to skyrocketing energy bills

Texas Governor Greg Abbott