Barry Smitherman « TexasVox: The Voice of Public Citizen in Texas

Posts Tagged ‘Barry Smitherman’

PUC Chair’s TX Tribune Interview: Needs Lege Direction on Efficiency, One Agency Idea Might Make Sense

Posted in Air Quality, Consumers, Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, tagged Barry Smitherman, CREZ, Kate Galbraith, public citizen texas, Public Utilties Commission, PUCT, Texas Legislature, texas tribune on August 12, 2010 | 3 Comments »

Public Utility Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman recently sat down with Texas Tribune reporter Kate Galbraith to talk about energy efficiency, CREZ, smart-meters, non-wind renewables, the switch-hold rule, the Lege, and Federal climate legislation (or lack thereof?). It’s a good read/listen if you have some time. Some interesting highlights: On the efficiency agency idea (we’ve had something [...]

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Energy Efficiency: Things Were Going So Well Until the Commissioners Got Involved

Posted in Air Quality, Coal, Consumers, Diesel, Efficiency, Energy, Global Warming, Good Government, green jobs, natural gas, Renewables, tagged Barry Smitherman, Donna Nelson, EEIP, Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Ken Anderson, public citizen texas, PUC, Rick Perry, SB546, Texas on July 30, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Perry Appointees Smitherman, Nelson, Anderson protect consumers from energy efficiency There is a disturbing trend emerging in Texas. A once successful consumer-oriented program is floundering because of a deficit of perspective behind the dais at the PUC. The Public Utility Commission of Texas proposed adopting an update to the state’s energy efficiency program that would [...]

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Proposed Rules Could Allow Disconnections for Some Critical Care Customers

Posted in Consumers, tagged Barry Smitherman, Consumers, PUC, PUCT, retail electric providers, shutoffs on May 18, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) is considering proposed rules changes that will in many ways improve consumer protection, but contains some provisions that could allow retail electric providers (REP) to disconnect medically vulnerable customers who rely on electricity to sustain their lives. Other rules being considered could make it impossible for a consumer who [...]

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PUC Chairman Ignores Impending Impact of Coal Emissions

Posted in Coal, Global Warming, tagged Barry Smitherman, carbon, co2, Coal, coal plant, Global Warming, greenhouse gas, Public Utilities Comissoin, PUC, renewable, Smitherman, Texas on February 25, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Barry Smitherman, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Texas (PUC), made this statement regarding the “progress” Texas has been making in regards to green energy and “responsible” leadership: Texas is the nation’s reddest state on the political map. But it produces more green energy than any blue state. The state’s top political leaders are [...]

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