'Dynamic' year ahead for Texas power retailers, big and small
Bruce Bullock, director of SMU's Maguire Energy Institute, talks about the year ahead for Texas power retailers.
Edward Klump
E&E reporter
HOUSTON -- Consumers can go with Amigo or Champion. Bounce or Reach. And don't forget Reliant or TXU, both derived from legacy utilities.
Welcome to deregulated retail power in Texas, where the guiding theme for more than a decade has been choice. This year, consumers may want to sort through current events along with the latest online offers.
The parent of TXU Energy is under pressure from a leveraged buyout that's expected to lead to a bankruptcy filing. Proton Energy, a small retailer based in Fort Worth, faces heavy fines and the possible loss of its license. NRG Energy Inc., Reliant's owner, plans to buy the Cirro brand to expand its Texas presence. And fluctuating natural gas prices threaten to raise electric rates, especially for people on variable plans.
"It should be one of the more dynamic years in that marketplace," said Bruce Bullock, director of the Maguire Energy Institute at Southern Methodist University. "You've certainly got consolidation. You've got obviously some enforcement actions going on. The natural gas price issue's obviously going to cause some economic changes and impact customers."
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