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Texans sharing cost of Arkansas power plant
The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday granted a request by AEP/Southwestern Electric Power Co. to move forward with plans to build a new power plant in Southwest Arkansas and allow Texas customers to help pay for it, according to PUC spokesman Terry Hadley.
The three member commission voted 2-1 in favor of SWEPCO’s application seeking a permit of convenience and necessity. The John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant has an estimated price tag of $1.52 billion, company officials have said.
Hadley said there was no more public testimony during Friday’s commission meeting. There was discussion among the commissioners.
“The next step will be for the PUC staff to prepare an order that will be signed by the commissioners at some future date,” Hadley said. He anticipates that will happen within the next few weeks.
Once that is done the order will become official, Hadley said.
Do you think Texans should help pay for an Arkansas power plant?
Comments
By Robert
July 7, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
Ok, ya’ll. I’m amazed at all the false information. Just because a plant is in Arkansas does not mean Arkansans are the only ones that will benefit. Power lines cross state lines and the power from there will certainly be used here. Do you think Pirkey and Welsh power is only used in Texas? I don’t recall the people in Arkansas and Louisiana raising such a ruckus when those and several other Swepco plants were being built in the 60’s and 70’s. Swepco has one of the lowest rates in the state. Be glad we are not like our neighbors in Tyler who have to choose who to buy our power from. We are still regulated by the state which has kept our prices lower. Compare Swepco’s prices with Luminant(old TXU) and see which is better. The plant in Arkansas will benefit ALL the Swepco service area and with it being in Arkansas, we don’t have to deal with any of the pollution it may cause.
By Beverly
July 7, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
I do not agree either with the commission’s stand. What it boils down to is we are going to have to pay for something that we do not use. AEP can go up on their prices at any given time and there is nothing we can do about it. We have to pay the bill and if we dont they will shut it off and just say well you knew what was due and you have to pay it. They do not have assistance of any kind other than to schedule a pay date within a 30 day period and if you cant come up with the money then they shut it off anyway. There is no competition for them to have better pricing. We need another electric company in Longview, to compete with AEP and then maybe they will think about things in a different light. There is no reason why Texas customers should have to pay for this. If you took a vote and saw how many people disagreed with this decision you will be aware that this is strictly wanted everyone other than low and middle class residents!
By Mike Allen
July 6, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
GEEZZZ, I have never heard of such dumb comments. GEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ. AEP has a long term goal in an unregulated market to go to MARKET BASED electricity rates. So the coal they use can compete with Natural Gas, and that will mean more money for AEP and again we lose.
By John
July 6, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
A good decision for East Texas power costs for years to come. I am disappointed that the plant is not in Texas as permitting/ regulatory environment probably made Arkansas a better deal. Check with your friends and family outside of the AEP/Swepco power grid and see what they pay for electricity. We are getting a very good deal in comparison. If you are getting your power from a coop then this decision is better for you sooner as the coop rates would be the first to explode if the plant power was not available for East Texas.
By Shea
July 6, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
The news article about this power plant says this: Who will it serve: SWEPCO has more than 464,000 customers in three states, including 112,000 in Western Arkansas, 176,000 in northwest Louisiana and 176,000 in East Texas. You know that really doesnt seem like a lot of people to me. It does say that Texas “customers” will help foot the bill, but 73% of it will be paid for by Swepco. So my question is this, over what period of time and how much will we have to pay? How much per month is this going to cost us? I would like some bare bones answers. Drill down into my pocket, but give me a dollar figure. I dont want any surprises. Electricity is still the best deal out there. My bill runs a constant 165.00 per month, which amounts to about 5.50 per day. That is a steal people.
By Deniece Cearley
July 6, 2008 2:54 AM | Link to this
Hey why not, let us pay for a plant that we wont use and that has no benifits to our area. Its not like we pay too much for gas or food these days, and promises that it will continue to rise. Why not go ahead and cut EAST TEXAS throats. As if we are not having enough of a hard time making ends meet now. What do you plan to do when people cant pay there electric bills any longer, Oh wait I know, cut off there service. A slap to the less fortunate, way to go idiots, you that work for Swepco make good money it wont effect you much and I’m sure there are stock options too. If you can live with what it is gonna do to people lives good for you because we are left with no choice.
By Mike Allen
July 6, 2008 1:14 AM | Link to this
Bill, Bill, Bill, I have all the room to complain in the world. But I focus my complaints towards the idiots that still vote. They keep voting other idiots into office.
You are under an illusion that with “small steps you are going to get something back.” That is fantasy and it isn’t going to happen. America as we once knew it is over, the reality is that their is a club and you and I are not in it.
It is time you wake up and smell the roses.
By Bill
July 6, 2008 1:02 AM | Link to this
If you dont vote you really dont have any more room to complain than an illegal immigrant. It may be frustrating but it takes small steps to get back what we may have lost. doing nothing gets you exatly that, so shut up.
By Mike Allen
July 5, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
This is exactly why I no longer vote in any election. We were all thrown overboard about 30 years ago by corporate America.
AEP has local, state, and National politicians bought and paid for.
Enjoy what you got this is as good as it gets.
By Sam Adams
July 3, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Another load of pure crap! Whether we agree with it or not!!!
By Sam Adams
July 3, 2008 11:43 PM | Link to this
Another load of pure crap—-straight down our throat!!! Whether we like it or NOT!
By MR. & MRS. C.D. BOYD
July 3, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this
WE DO NOT THINK THAT TEXANS SHOULD HELP PAY FOR A PLANT IN ARKANSAS. WE DO NOT THINK THIS WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO US.
By Marie
July 3, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
Why should Texans have to pay for what is needed in Arkansas? How is that right? We won’t be using that power plant, why should we have to foot the bill? This is a slap in the face to Texas customers. Let’s build a power plant in Alaska and have Arkansas pay for it…it seems to make sense to these people.
By David Breedlove
June 24, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
I do not agree with the Commission’s stand. The fact that the Turk Power Plant will be located in Arkansas means nothing as far as our power costs are concerned. Geography has nothing to do with power production costs. With today’s modern grid of electrical distrubution systems, we here in East Texas would most certainly benefit from being partners in the new plant. Being a partner would mean that we would share in the benefits of SWEPCO’s controlled production cost. The alternative would be that SWEPCO would sell East Texas “spot purchased” power which would most certainly cost more than what would be produced at the new plant. We should become a participant in the John W. Turk Plant.