David’s Weblog

“National Power Company has decided to rescind the scheduled rate increase set for late June 2008. All Fixed rate pricing and terms shall remain as originally agreed. National Power Company apologizes for any confusion caused by the rescinded letter. All customers to whom the rate increase letter was sent to will receive additional confirmation via mail.”

National Power Company met with the PUC today. A PUC spokesperson told me Barrett told them he would be making this announcement and the PUC says the news is “encouraging.”

Amy Davis

KPRC Local 2 Investigates

3 comments May 15, 2008

Latest May 15, 08 on National Power Company, Houston TX

Electric Company Pulled From State’s Web Site

I sent them an email to terminate the contract few days ago and told them that I will never do business with them again. I am glad the Texas PUC is looking into it, but I am still cautiously optimistic since politicians are known to wine and dine with the industries that they regular. I hope the consumers will not be at the losing end of this ordeal.

According to one Dallasnews.com article, National Power angered one particularly high-profile customer. “Give me a break, this is not a material change,” said Steve Wolens, a former Texas legislator who wrote the electricity deregulation laws, which allowed retail electricity sellers to set their own rates.

2 comments May 15, 2008

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Add comment May 15, 2008

Random News Wednesday, May 14, 2008

PUC probing power retailer for changing ‘fixed’ rate

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Add comment May 14, 2008

Boycott National Power Company, Houston TX

NPC Changing Contract

I elected National Power Company as my electricity provider since late August last year. The agreement is 11.9 cents per kilowatt fixed rate for 18 months with a $150-$300 early termination fee. It sounded fair that I would not change my electricity company for the next 18 months even if the price should go down. Apparently the price has gone up since last fall. I received a notice of Material change yesterday from the National Power Company. They are changing my rate from 11.9 cents per kWh to 15.3 cents per kWh. First I thought they can’t do that because it’s a fixed rate contract, and then I realized that there is a section in the contract allowing them to do that. What is the point to offer fixed rate contract if they are not going to honor the full term? I would suffer the consequence of paying the penalty if I break the contract, and yet they are benefiting from breaking the contract with me without negative consequences. I know that Texas PUC is mostly very pro-electricity industry and so are Texas courts, so Texas consumers often suffer under unfair business practices. It is an unfair, unconscientious, without consideration piece of contract. Please let everyone you know be aware that these fixed rate contracts are only favorable to the electricity companies and not to the consumers. Houston’s KPRC Channel 2 did a report about it, and if you are one of the “victimized” customer, please file a complaint with the Texas PUC.

See the news report at: http://www.click2houston.com/investigates/16251234/detail.html

File complaint with Texas Public Utility Commission at: http://www.puc.state.tx.us/ocp/complaints/filing.cfm

8 comments May 14, 2008