Texas officials say $ 29 million in electricity bills should be forgiven

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Tuesday that $ 29 million in electricity bills will be forgiven after electricity supplier Griddy filed for bankruptcy on Monday.

“My office sued Griddy Energy, under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, to hold them accountable for their escalation from last month’s winter storm by debiting huge amounts from customer accounts as Texans struggled to survive the storm,” Paxton said in a statement.

“I made sure that Griddy’s proposed bankruptcy plan takes a significant step forward by offering release to approximately 24,000 former customers who owe $ 29.1 million in unpaid electricity bills. Griddy and my office are in ongoing good faith negotiations to try to provide additional relief to those Griddy customers who have already paid their storm-related utility bills. ”

Paxton specified that through his bankruptcy plan, Griddy will “release all outstanding payment obligations to those Texas consumers who could not afford their utility bills due to the high prices charged during the storm” and that “Texas and Griddy will work in good faith to provide address lighting. for Texans who have already paid. “

Paxton had filed suit against Griddy under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act after some Texans were hit by abnormally high electricity bills during last month’s harsh winter weather, even when power went out in much of the state.

Dozens of people in Texas and surrounding states died in freezing temperatures last month, and millions were without power for days. Officials have said frozen machinery at natural gas plants has fueled the outages.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) hailed the news, saying he “will continue to work with the legislature to resolve the remaining claims.”

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