LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - Lubbock’s city council has taken another step to ensure no resident is left without power as the city inches closer to its switch to the retail utility market next year.
Council members voted to approve the processes for those who don’t take the opportunity to choose a provider and verified how many providers Lubbock customers will have to choose from. Sc Connector
Clint Gardner with LP&L says the company is working to make the transition smooth for everyone.
“What we’re trying to do is maintain a continuity of service,” Gardner said. “So no one is without power.”
Customers who haven’t chosen a provider two weeks before the switch to the retail electric market will be assigned to one of three default providers. Those are Reliant Energy Retail Services LLC, TXU Energy Retail Company LLC and Octopus Energy LLC.
“We’ll start dividing them out equally among the retailers and it will be random,” Gardner said, “so it’s not like we’ll be putting people with specific reps.”
The council also approved the safety net for customers if their provider is unable to supply power or if a mass transition of customers is needed.
“If a rep is acquired by another rep that will be a POLR process,” Gardner said. “Also, if a rep sells a block of customers to another retail electric provider, which is possible, that will be a POLR process as well.”
Reliant would bridge the gap between companies as the city’s designated provider of last resort (POLR). It’s the same process ERCOT uses in other markets, and it has been proven to work efficiently.
“It works,” Gardner said. “It’s really flawless for them. In fact, ERCOT told us there’s really no other way to do it.”
The final resolution approved by the council ensures each customer has an adequate number of retailers to choose from.
“As of the writing of these resolutions and when the EUB passed it last week we have 41 retail electric providers,” Gardner said. “32 of those are ready to go in day one.”
The switch to the retail market is expected to take place at the beginning of 2024.
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