Texas electricity complaints filed with state regulators have dropped to a new post-electric deregulation low, according to a new report by the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power.

According to TCAP, Texans filed 4,835 electricity-related complaints or inquiries with the Texas Public Utility Commission during the most recent fiscal year — down from the 6,973 electricity-related complaints or inquires filed during FY 2015. This nearly 31 percent decline is among the steepest since the state deregulated most of its retail electricity market in 2002.

The PUC also reported a drop in almost all discrete categories of electric complaints over the last fiscal year. These include a drop in meter complaints, provision of service complaints and those relating to “switch-holds.”

The data, part of a new TCAP Snapshot Report, suggests that Texans are feeling more comfortable with the state’s deregulated market, said TCAP Executive Director Jay Doegey.

“This upbeat report shows complaints have dropped precipitously since the early years of electric deregulation,” said Mr. Doegey. “It appears that Texans are becoming more comfortable with their electricity providers, and less frustrated with bad actors in the market. This is very positive news.”

For its analysis, TCAP reviewed 19 years of complaint data at the PUC, the state agency that oversees the Texas electricity market. TCAP considers both complaints and inquires in order to gauge general consumer sentiment and also to maintain a uniform methodology across the study period.

The previous record low for complaints and inquires filed during the deregulation era came in FY 2015. The highest number of complaints and inquiries came in FY 2003, when Texans filed 17,250.

See TCAP's latest Snapshot Report here