The Texas House Committee on State Affairs heard testimony yesterday on several electric market bills

Broker Registration

The House took testimony on HB 3645, which generally would require brokers to register with the PUC. Comments on the bill were in-line with testimony given at a recent Senate hearing on a similar bill (see our story here), with groups of REPs and brokers in support of the bill. A representative of the Texas Energy Association for Marketers supported HB 3645's concept but expressed concern with the bill's definition of brokerage services, which is defined as "selling" retail electricity. TEAM noted that under PURA, only REPs may "sell" electricity in customer choice areas. TEAM noted that HB 3645 itself states elsewhere in the bill that a broker, "may not sell or take title to electric energy."

HB 3645 was left pending in committee

Effect Of Subsidies On ERCOT Market

The committee heard testimony on a committee substitute to HB 2908, concerning subsidies impacting ERCOT wholesale prices

As previously reported, the original bill would have directed the PUCT to take actions to counteract the impact of subsidies (see story here)

The committee substitute would only require a study of the issue of the impact subsidies have on wholesale prices

The bill was left pending in committee