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The Senate Committee on Nominations met on July 15 to hear from Commissioner Lori Cobos of the Public Utility Commission.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Commissioner Lori Cobos, PUC

  • Campbell provides background on Cobos, attorney in private practice in electric industry before shifting to public sector
  • Campbell – What should be the near-term goals as a newly appointed commissioner?
    • Cobos – Should work with authority over ERCOT to ensure reliability, ensure better public communication; need to work to implement storm-related laws & gov’s directives
    • Highlights Gov’s directives to increase dispatchable generation and improve reliability
  • Seliger – What is the job of the PUC?
    • Regulate electricity, water, wastewater, and communications industry
  • Seliger – Answering to whom?
    • People of Texas
  • Seliger – What did you learn from Winter Storm Uri?
    • Learned that communication to the public is critical, before, during, and after crisis; applies not just to storms, but any crisis
    • Also need to ensure continued accountability to make sure we have measures and processes in place to make us aware of issues before they came up; authority over ERCOT shouldn’t be taken for granted
  • Seliger – What is the first thing you change from a statutory or regulatory point of view?
    • Need to close the loop on rate products charging exorbitant amount
    • Next thing is to encourage reliability, incl. incentives to encourage generation
  • Seliger – Is it a fair observation that PUC seemed to be sitting there doing nothing while the Storm was going on?
    • A lot going on back then I wasn’t privy to, our job is to promote reliability and accountability, will be doing everything we can and won’t be sitting on sidelines
  • Seliger – PUC should’ve vocalized immediately what their impressions were of what was going on & should’ve taken some sort of action
    • This falls in line with maintaining authority over ERCOT, should always be asking for more info and working on accountability standards
  • Springer – Important issues for rural Texans, USF was designed for a reason, knows that Cobos will understand need to support rural areas
    • Yes, need to recognize this important issue moving forward
  • Paxton – Discusses experience during the Winter Storm; how would you describe your lane at PUC?
    • All of us are focused on grid reliability at ERCOT, need to balance ensuring just & reasonable rates and providing infrastructure through encouraging investment
  • Paxton – What is the most significant thing that needs to happen that hasn’t been?
    • PUC needs to serve ratepayers with oversight on utility rates; storm has exposed other consumer protection issues like retail market and index products
    • Need to think with more foresight about how this translates into customer protection
  • Paxton – Looking forward to do what we need to ensure you do this well, people need the lights to stay on
  • Seliger – There will be another crisis, important to be prepared the next time; surprise at the PUC won’t be acceptable
  • Campbell – Need to prepare for the next event; I think you’ll do a great job

 

Closing Comments

  • Campbell – Planning to vote tomorrow