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Internet Public Hearing Broadcast Cost Allocation Recommendation
On July 23, 2026 Texas PUC Staff issued a memorandum and project order making its cost recommendation regarding cost allocations to cover TPUC Broadcast Hearings. This matter has been placed on the July 30, 2026, opening meeting, item 42 on the agenda.
As background, Texas Utilities Code § 12.204 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (Commission) to make live Internet video of all public hearings and open meetings publicly accessible without charge. The Commission is authorized to recover the costs of providing this service by imposing an assessment against the following entities:
- a public utility;
- a corporation described by Texas Utilities Code § 32.053;
- a retail electric provider (REP) that serves more than 250,000 customers; or
- a power generation company that owns more than 5,000 megawatts of installed capacity in this state.
The Commission has secured a new contract with a third-party vendor to provide the required broadcasting services. The new contract will begin on September 1, 2026, for a period of four years. The Contractor’s fee will be $150,000 per year. The Contractor will be paid through assessments against qualifying entities. Each year in August, Commission Staff will determine the qualifying entities for the upcoming fiscal year and recommend a proportional fee assessment for Commission approval. The attached proposed order contains Commission Staff’ s recommended fee assessments for the named entities for fiscal year 2027 (September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027).”
Staff’s recommended FY 2027 assessment to each REP is as follows:
FY 2027 Assessment (Proposed)
REP Allocation Amount
TXU Energy Retail Company $15,506
Reliant Energy $13,963
Just Energy $3,787
US Retailers $3,176
Ambit Texas $3,011
Direct Energy $2,800
Gexa Energy $2,757
