Dear Legislators:

 

You promised Texans accountability of Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) and other electric cooperatives.  You failed to do that in the 81st Legislative Session.

 

During the past 2 years I have written our district's Senator Jeff Wentworth and House Rep. Patrick Rose for assistance in dealing with PEC's often inept and calculating corrupt actions in increasing rates to its members and in violating "open" government in its business practices.  In addition, PEC other abuses of member trust now have been unraveling and should be sufficient for a big change in policy and accountability.  But it has not.

 

I have written the Attorney General's Office, all lawmakers and the Public Utility Commission (PUC) re: PEC's ongoing questionable business practices but no one wants to provide the oversight needed to ensure PEC is changing its "evil" ways of the past and is working in the best interests of coop members and the people of Texas.  Everyone says that they lack the legal authority to oversight PEC.

 

An issue appears to be that while PEC and coop rates are indeed lower than those of other electric companies, it seems lax legislation and the idea that we need the coops to ensure keeping other electric rates low enables the "hands-off" policy by lawmakers to continue.  Well, let me tell you lawmakers that this philosophy and inaction stinks!

 

You need to rethink this pattern of poor legislating and lack of enforcing coops and the electric industry.  Personally, I don't care how much the industry lobby pays all of you it does NOT entitle these companies to forgo REAL oversight and accountability.  I really don't know how you folks sleep at night as the financial hardships of so many Texans increase monthly while you folks continue to do so little to help.  Electric coops are above the law.

 

As for my district, I am contacting my neighbors to vote in candidates other than Sen. Wentworth and Rep. Rose.  As far as I am concerned, they both are useless to us.  We need to vote in candidates who really care about our Texas communities and not just provide lip service to us, while doing everything they can for their wealthy special interests.  Similar points may be made for many other lawmakers and certainly at the front of the list are the governor, lt.governor and house speaker, as the leaders of the corruption and flourishing of wealthy lobbies that continue to apply enormous financial pressure onto hardworking and hardly working Texans.

 

Overall, legislative inaction re: the electric industry is appalling.  Most of you talk a good game, but do little to support positive change for Texans and for that you all should be ashamed.  For those of you who do try, I commend you but you need to work harder for the people you are supposed to serve.  Texans need you now more than ever.

 

I am asking that you all reconsider your previous inactions and instead do something positive to help Texas communities.  Below I am including a recent commentary posted in the Hays County RoundUp, a local blog trying to inform and educate Texans and to work for positive change. http://www.hayscountyroundup.blogspot.com/