Abbott Pushes to Open Texas Power Markets to 140 Retail Providers Amid Utility PAC Donations
Updated
Updated · KSAT San Antonio · Aug 7
Abbott Pushes to Open Texas Power Markets to 140 Retail Providers Amid Utility PAC Donations
3 articles · Updated · KSAT San Antonio · Aug 7
Summary
Months before the 2027 legislative session, Greg Abbott unveiled a plan to let competition into cities served by municipally owned utilities, potentially opening places like San Antonio to retail electricity sellers.
Abbott cast those utilities as "energy monopolies" and attacked city revenue transfers from electric bills as a hidden tax, arguing customers should be able to shop for lower rates.
Transparency USA records show electricity-linked PACs gave Abbott at least $230,000 in recent reporting periods, including donations tied to Oncor, NRG, CenterPoint, Vistra, NextEra and El Paso Electric.
CPS Energy and San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones pushed back, saying the municipal model delivers some of Texas' lowest combined electric and gas rates while funding local services and grid resilience.
Any overhaul would require legislative approval, and it remains unclear how many of Texas' roughly 140 certified retail providers would actually enter a newly opened San Antonio market.