North Texas Renewable Energy Group July Meeting - "The Texas Electric Grid" & "Blackout Blues" - Dallas

Texas Public Utility Commission Chairman Donna Nelson is so concerned about Texas’ image that she is afraid that telling the public to conserve electricity on hot summer afternoons will send a message that we’re running out of power and discourage companies from wanting to do business here.  (http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/06/27/rolling-blackouts-a-black-eye-for-texas/).

On June 28 the Texas PUC voted to raise the price cap on wholesale electricity prices during peak demand times by 50%, hoping that higher prices will entice power companies to build more electricity plants.  Ironically, with the price of natural gas falling through the floor and in a state that produces most of its electricity using natural gas, Texas electricity consumers won’t be able to enjoy the lower electricity prices they might expect.

Is the Texas PUC doing the right things to make our electricity reliable?

How high does the price of electricity have to go to lure investors to build more power plants? 

How long does it take to build a power plant?

How much can consumers help by conserving?

How do renewables, distributed generation, and demand response fit in?

 Don’t just have an opinion – make it an INFORMED opinion!  Learn about these issues and bring your questions to the next meeting of the North Texas Renewable Energy Group at 10 am on Saturday, July 14.

For more information see    www.txses.org/NTREG/events.htm