Affordable Electricity

Hard working Texans struggling to keep their lights on! Texas utilities rates are higher than most states across the country. Texas Organizing Project is running a campaign to fight for affordable utilities. Texans pay outrageously high electricity rates. Since the electric market was deregulated in Texas 10 years ago and we now pay higher rates on average than most states across the country. Texas families are paying $500 more a year than folks are paying in Oklahoma, for example. Low-income families are under intense stress and pressure just to keep the lights on. TOP is fighting for fair disconnection policies in the hot summer months and weatherization solutions to help low-income families alleviate the high cost burdens of rising utility rates.

We’ve been focused in on a specific issue -- the System Benefit Fund.

The System Benefit Fund is a statewide fund that everyone who pays a utility bill in Texas pays into every month. A small portion of the money you pay on your electric bill goes into the state wide fund each month. It was set up when the electric market was deregulated to create a funding source to help low-income families pay their utility bills.

However, the State Legislature has decided to allocate only a small percentage of the funds (about 25%)  to actually go into the programs that help low-income families. We’re focused on getting all of the System Benefit Fund to support the families who need it most.

Using the Fund, we can will help people save money on their electric bills, and bring jobs to our community that are good for the environment.