The Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) Chair Arthur D'Andrea resigned March 16, 2021 at the request of Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R).[1] The move was the latest in a string of events following an extreme cold weather event in February 2021 that caused widespread blackouts in the state. D’Andrea is the third PUC commissioner to resign in as many weeks which leaves the appointed panel empty. D’Andrea had been under pressure from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick (R) to follow the advice of Potomac Economics, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ (ERCOT) independent market monitor, to correct $16 billion of excessive charges from the power outage crisis. D’Andrea had declined to revise real-time wholesale energy prices. His resignation was announced after Texas Monthly published a leaked recording where D’Andrea promised out-of-state investors that he would support efforts to prevent repricing of the excessive charges.[2] On March 15, 2021, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would mandate ERCOT move ahead with pricing corrections. However, the Texas House speaker said he did not believe ERCOT’s decision was an error which may mean an uphill battle for the proposal.

[1] https://www.utilitydive.com/news/texas-puc-chair-resigns-following-pressure-from-governor-refusal-to-repri/596843/

[2] https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/wall-street-profited-off-texas-blackouts/