None.
None.
(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
The Texas Public Utility Commission was created in 1975 by the Public Utility Regulatory Act, House Bill 819, 64th Legislature, Regular Session. The Commission assumed its regulatory duties on January 1, 1976. The Commission is composed of three salaried members, appointed by the governor with concurrence of the Senate to six-year overlapping terms. The governor designates the chair. For two years prior to their appointment the commissioners may not have served as officers, directors, owners, employees, partners, or legal representatives of any public utility or affiliated interest, and may not have owned stocks or bonds worth $10,000 or more in a public utility, affiliated interest, or direct competitor of a public utility.
The Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates telecommunication and electric services in Texas. It has original jurisdiction over electric utilities that operate in unincorporated areas of Texas, local exchange telephone companies, and several river authorities in the state. In September 1995, electric and telephone cooperatives received the option of requesting that their rates be deregulated and some have done so. The generating facilities of the Lower Colorado River Authority were also removed from PUC jurisdiction.
The PUC has appellate jurisdiction over investor-owned electric utilities operating within Texas cities and over municipal systems. The PUC regulates local exchange telephone carriers but does not have jurisdiction over the rates of long-distance telephone carriers. The PUC has limited jurisdiction over telephone operator services and pay phone providers, automatic dialing/announcing devices, and telephone solicitors. Initially, the PUC also had jurisdiction over water and sewer utilities. These latter duties were transferred to the Texas Water Commission in 1986.
The primary role of the Commissioners is to serve in a judicial capacity in utility rate cases and other proceedings, including considering requests for notice of intent, requests for certificates of operating authority (formerly certificates of convenience and necessity), and requests for deregulation. The Commissioners articulate policy through the issuance of final orders and rules. The Commissioners hold meetings once or twice a month to consider cases, adopt agency rules, make legislative recommendations, develop long-range agency goals and plans, and set regulatory policy. The Commission has the authority to make and enforce rules necessary to carry out its functions.
Additional duties of the Commission include monitoring the management of all public utilities, conducting management audits of utilities under its jurisdiction, investigating property sales and mergers by utilities, registering telecommunication providers, encouraging use of alternative energy resources, and managing of the Universal Service Fund. This fund was created by the 70th Legislature in 1987 (Senate Bill 444, Regular Session) to fund programs that assist local exchange companies in providing basic local exchange service at reasonable rates in high-cost rural areas. Legislation in 1997 changed the name to the Texas Universal Service Fund (75th Legislature, Senate Bill 1751, Regular Session).
In 1995, the 74th Legislature passed legislation (House Bill 2128 and Senate Bill 373) that significantly changed the focus of the Public Utility Commission and resulted in a major reorganization of the agency. The legislation provided an option for the deregulation of rates for electric and telephone utility cooperatives, and also mandated that the Lower Colorado River Authority would no longer be regulated by the PUC with respect to its electric generating and transmission facilities.
The Texas Telecommunications Act, or House Bill 2128, directed the PUC to advance the development of competition in the telephone service at the local level. The Commission must protect the public interest while fostering competition and advancement in telecommunications. A key issue in this bill was the opening of the local telecommunications market to competition with the issuing of two types of certificates to new telecommunications companies. The bill brought forth changes in rate regulation of companies and defined policy goals for the development of an advanced telecommunications infrastructure in Texas.
Senate Bill 373 affected electric utility regulation. The bill included significant changes to promote the development of competition among wholesale providers of electricity. The Commission is mandated to prepare a statewide integrated resource plan presenting demand projections, resource needs, and solicitation plans. The bill also changed and clarified matters regarding the regulatory authority of municipalities.
In 1997, the Comptroller's Office issued a performance review report on the PUC calling for expanded customer education. The report also directed the PUC to help utility customers make informed decisions about their utility choices. In response, the PUC created a new division, the Office of Customer Protection.
In 1999, the 76th Legislature passed legislation (Senate Bill 7) that restructured the electric utility industry and mandated retail electric choice for customers on January 1, 2002. It also passed legislation that further deregulated the telecommunications industry and reduced access charges (House Bill 777) as well as legislation that added protection for telecommunications customers (Senate Bill 560).
The agency underwent a major reorganization in 1995, going from seven divisions (Administrative Division, Electric Division, Telephone Division, General Counsel Division, Hearings Division, Information Systems and Services Division, and Operations Review Division) -- to three offices (Office of Policy Development, Office of Regulatory Affairs, and the Executive Office). The latter two offices each contain several divisions. The Hearings Division of the Commission was transferred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings as mandated by Senate Bill 373, 74th Legislature, 1995. Further reorganization in 1997 resulted in the creation of a new office, the Office of Consumer Protection. As of 1999, the Public Utility Commission is composed of the Office of Policy Development, the Office of Regulatory Affairs, the Office of Consumer Protection, and the Administrative Division.
The Office of Policy Development functions as the policy advisor of the agency. This office advises the commissioners on policy issues, manages strategic analysis and planning for regulatory issues affecting telephone and electric matters, organizes public hearings in rulemaking projects, prepares preliminary orders in some key protested cases that identify issues of significant policy interest, and prepares final orders in accord with Commission vote. The office also coordinates the processing of cases sent to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
The Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) has four divisions: Legal, Financial Review, Electric Utility Analysis and Telecommunications Analysis. The ORA is responsible for recording protested cases that are sent to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The office also reviews unprotested filings, and develops and prepares for publication amendments to the Commission's Substantive and Procedural rules. It also monitors the quality of service that utilities are providing to consumers, reviews transmission line applications, assists with the assignment of area codes, and evaluates certificates of operating authority.
The Office of Consumer Protection educates and informs consumers of their rights and enforces PUC rules and statutes. It resolves complaints from utility customers, notifies utilities of violations and penalties, and collects refunds for customers resulting from penalties against utility companies.
The Administrative Division, headed by the Executive Director, has four sections: Human Resources, Fiscal Services and Purchasing, the Mail Room, and Information Resources, which includes the Library, Central Records, and Computer Support Services.
(Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 1445c-0)
These records of the Texas Public Utility Commission consist of correspondence, reports and papers prepared by Commissioners and staff, speeches, earnings reports of utility companies, press releases, policy manuals, and organization charts. Dates covered are 1975-2002. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates telecommunication and electric services in Texas. Summary documentation of the agency from its earliest days to the present can be found in the press releases. The policies and procedures manual documents executive orders and policies, and the procedures for implementing them. Speeches, papers, and reports presented by Commissioners and staff discuss the PUC and/or various aspects of the utilities industry. Earnings reports of electric and telephone utility companies provide information about the organization and operations of the utility companies regulated by the PUC.
Topics covered in these records include regulation and deregulation of the telephone and electric utility industries; new or different sources of energy or energy transmission; taxation of utilities; economic development; local competition in Texas; universal telecommunications services, the Texas Universal Service Fund (USF); telecommunications and electric programs for rural communities; changes in state and federal regulations, such as the overall changes brought about by the state Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995 and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996; and functions of the PUC.
These records are organized into eight series.
[The most relevant series is the Research files of the general counsel, 1974-1996 (bulk 1991-1996), 13 cubic ft.]
Laura K. Saegert, March, August 1998; May 2001; February, May 2003
Accession numbers: 1996/113, 1996/114, 1996/131, 1997/046, 1998/090, 1999/128, 1999/177, 1999/189, 2000/061, 2000/123, 2000/124, 2000/125, 2000/151, 2001/124, 2001/129, 2001/142, 2003/077, 2003/102, 2003/156, 2012/122
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on May 30, August 5 and November 15, 1996; March 25, June 28, July 22, and November 2, 1999; March 1 and May 11, 2000; May 2 and 31, August 1, 2001; January 24 and May 14, 2003; and by the Texas Legislative Reference Library on March 27, 2002 (reaccessioned on February 3, 2012).
Organization charts and press releases are generally sent yearly to the Archives, speeches and reports are transferred periodically.
These files consist of internal memoranda and correspondence to the executive director of the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC). Dates covered are 1979, 1984, and 1990-1994, the bulk dating 1991-1993. Some incoming memos or letters were sent directly to the executive director, others are copies of items sent to PUC Commissioners, PUC staff, or outside agencies, with a copy being directed to the executive director. The executive director during the bulk of the time period covered in these files was James Crouch. Correspondents include various PUC staff, including division directors, the general counsel's office, and others, and other state agencies. The bulk of the materials concern either the Universal Service Fund (USF) or the Utilities Information System (UIS). Other topics covered include staff-generated utility reports as required by the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA), reimbursed expenses, settlement procedures at the PUC, the Earnings Monitor program, and amendments to PURA.
These records are arranged in reverse chronological order.
(Identify the item), Administrative correspondence, Executive Director's Office, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 2003/102
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on Jnaury 24, 2003.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, May 2003
These are speeches and power point presentations given by
Commissioners and staff of the Texas Public Utility Commission, dating
1980-1983, 1986-1991, 1995-1998, and 2000-2001. The Commissioners' speeches
were given largely by Place 2 Commissioner Jo Campbell during the years
1986-1991. A few of the files also contain notes. Also present in Jo Campbell's
files is a copy of an article she did for a journal. This is filed following
her speeches. A few speeches are also present for Place 1 Commissioners Garret
Morris, dating 1980-1982, and Tommie G. Smith, 1982; and Place 2 Commissioner
George M. Cowden, 1983. Two speeches of Chairman Pat Wood are present from
2000-2001. Some speeches and speech materials are also present in the series
Power point presentations/speeches were given by Chairman Pat Wood, several division directors and assistant directors, the chief engineer, the chief economist, and other PUC staff. Several of the power point presentations were not noted as being prepared for a specific event but were likely made to be used on multiple occasions. The power point presentations are dated 1995-1998. All the slides of the presentations were printed from the original disks, the disks have also been retained.
Topics covered in the speeches and power point presentations include regulation and deregulation of the telephone and electric utility industries; new or different sources of energy or energy transmission, such as cogeneration or bulk power transmission; taxation of utilities; economic development; local competition in Texas; universal telecommunications services; the Texas Universal Service Fund; telecommunications and electric programs for rural communities; market projections; changes in state and federal regulations, such as the overall changes brought about by the state Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995 and the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996; and functions of the Commission. Presentations and speeches were given at professional and/or trade association meetings and conferences; for public groups, such as the Rotary Club; at government meetings or conferences, including legislative committee hearings; and at regulatory programs at universities.
These records are arranged into two groups - Commissioners speeches and power point presentations. The Commissioners speeches are arranged by speaker, then in reverse chronological order. The power point presentations are arranged as received on the disks.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Speeches, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1996/113, 1997/046, 2000/124, 2001/142, 2003/156
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on May 30 and November 15, 1996; March 1, 2000; August 1, 2001; and May 14, 2003.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998, May 2003
[Topics - Retail Choice Pilot Program, remarks to Electric Reliability Council of Texas meeting.]
[Disk 1, file 8-8-95SP]
[Disk 1, file NARUC 95]
[Disk 1, file NASIRE]
[Disk 1, file NTIAPRS3]
[Disk 1, file TSAT9_95 in black and white; TSAT95C in color]
[Disk 1, file TTASLID2 - long version]
[Disk 1, file TTASLIDE - shorter version]
[Disk 2, file CPAUPDAT]
[Disk 2, file PAMPRES]
[Disk 2, file PRES1]
[Disk 2, file RCFORMAT]
[Disk 2, file SEDL95]
[Disk 2, file TEXAL96]
[Disk 3, file 373FE96, also file RPT96FEB]
[Disk 3, file RURALDEV]
[Disk 3, file TELREFM]
[Disk 4, file COMCLAS]
[Disk 4, file COSTMDLS]
[Disk 4, file TTA97]
[Disk 5, file 373APR96]
[Disk 5, file ALCATEL]
[Disk 5, file COMPETE]
[Disk 5, file FCC]
[Disk 5, file FEDERAL]
[Disk 5, file KMP]
[Disk 5, file PHONPLUS]
[Disk 5, file PUCORG2]
[Disk 5, file RESTRUC1]
[Disk 5, file ST_AFFRS]
[Disk 5, file T-101-B]
[Disk 5, file TUSFD2]
[Disk 5, file TXLIBRY]
[Disk 5, file USTA96]
[Disk 6, file 5_14ALBQ - long version]
[Disk 6, file ALBQPRES - shorter version]
[Disk 6, file E_AUSCIV - shorter version]
[Disk 6, file E_SHCOLS - longer version]
[Disk 6, file T-101-A]
[Disk 7, file FEDUSF3]
[Disk 7, file ICM97]
[Disk 7, file NARUC97]
[Disk 7, file NEPAUPDT]
[Disk 7, file NEWEMPL]
[Disk 7, file PUCORG]
[Disk 7, file PW0997E]
[Disk 7, file RUSSIA]
[Disk 7, file TSTCI97]
[Disk 7, file TUSF]
[Disk 8, file ARMY]
[Disk 8, file COMBINE1]
[Disk 8, file COMPETE2]
[Disk 8, file GASCOOL]
[Disk 8, file TRNPRICE]
[Disk 8, file TUSFPW]
[Disk 9, file PITTPRES]
[Disk 9, file REGECON]
[Disk 9, file PIPSLIDE]
[Disk 9, file PWO4998]
[Disk 9, file PWCPAS, same as file PW-CPAS]
[Disk 9, file SDCHARTS]
[Disk 9, file SDRULES]
[Disk 9, file USFOURVW]
[Disk 10, file DHD, same as file MAG-TELE]
[Disk 10, file PARVIS]
[Note: disk 11 is blank.]
These are reports and papers presented at conferences and meetings by Texas Public Utility Commission staff. This series currently consists of two papers, dating 1992 and 1996. The first paper, dating 1992, concerns energy policies and was presented by Commissioner Goodfriend while serving as the Director of the Division of Economic and Regulatory Policy. The other paper concerns rule-making activities prepared for a conference by division director Parvis Adib, in April 1996.
These records are arranged chronologically.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Reports and papers, conference, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1996/113, 2000/123
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on May 30, 1996 and March 1, 2000.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998
These are reports on individual projects conducted by the Texas Public Utility Commission staff or by consultants. Dates covered are 1989 and 1996. This series currently consists of two reports prepared by the PUC, one on the magnitude of generation excess costs over market, done in 1996, and one providing a profile of the old Electric Division of the Commission, done in 1989.
These records are arranged topically.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Reports, studies and surveys - final, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1996/113
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on May 30, 1996.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998
These are required annual earnings reports sent to the Texas Public Utility Commission by the electric and telephone utilities in the state, including investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and river authorities. Dates covered are 1988-1996. Each report contains the name of the utility, date organized, lists recent changes, names of contacts, number of employees, number of customers, method used to book amortization of excess, list of tax elections, current IRS audit status, revenues and expenses, balance, adjusted cost of long-term debt, weighted cost of long-term debt, stock data, adjusted cost of preferred stock, weighted average cost of capital, weather data (heating and cooling degree days, etc.), customer data, income taxes, sales, and other information pertaining to the performance of the utility over the year. Most of the reports cover the calendar year. Some reports cover six months of the company's operations, usually followed by the company's annual report for that year. The semi-annual reports are primarily submitted by the telephone utilities. Unless otherwise noted, the reports are annual reports. Six-month reports are noted as are a few financial and audit reports filed with the earnings reports of the companies. In some cases, a revised report is submitted a few weeks after the original report. Reports are occasionally accompanied by cover letters from the company to the PUC. In a few reports, maps are present, showing coverage areas, utility lines, etc.
Electric utility reports are present on microfiche for 1989-1992
(with a few paper copies for 1992 and one report each for 1988 and 1989), and
on paper for 1993-1996. Telephone utility reports are present on microfiche for
1989-1991, and on paper for 1992-1996. Reports for both utilities are no longer
microfilmed. Earlier earnings reports of public utilities are present in the
records of the Secretary of State,
These reports are required by the Public Utility Commission from each public utility - 16 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 25, Section 25.73 (b). The PUC has to determine if the utilities are earning within the bounds they are allowed by the agency. These reports are the principal tool used by the PUC to evaluate over earnings of the utilities. The information is also used to prepare summary statistical reports. One interesting feature about these reports is that for utility companies serving more than one state, these reports only provide information about the Texas portion of the utility. According to agency staff, information available in federally mandated reports cover the entire utility's range, making this Texas tracking portion a feature unique to these earnings reports.
These records are arranged two groups: Electric utilities earnings reports, 1988-1996 and Telephone utilities earnings reports, 1989-1996. Within each group the files are arranged chronologically, then alphabetically.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Earnings monitoring reports, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 2000/151
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Public Utility Commission on May 11, 2000.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 2001
These records are news or press releases issued by the Texas Public Utility Commission about their activities. Dates covered are 1975-2001. Topics covered include appointments and hiring of higher level staff, appointment of new commissioners, rule and policy changes, changes in the utility industry affecting PUC actions, electric pilot program, changes in PUC functions, reports on rate cases, and area code changes.
These records are arranged in reverse chronological order.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Press releases, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1998/090, 1999/128, 1999/177, 2000/125, 2001/124, 2003/077, 2012/122
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Public Utility Commission on March 9, 1998, March 3 and June 28, 1999; March 3, 2000; May 2, 2001; and November 20, 2002; and from the Legislative Reference Library on March 27, 2002 (reaccessioned on February 3, 2012).
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998, March 2001, May 2003
This is the overall or primary manual of administrative policies and operating procedures, intended for use by the Texas Public Utility Commission staff. Executive orders which dictate policy are integrated into the manual. Dates of the manual are 1988-1994 (bulk 1991).
These records are arranged topically.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item) Policies and procedures manual, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession number: 1996/131
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Public Utility Commission on August 5, 1996.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998
These are organization charts, dating 1979-1996, 1998-2002. The charts illustrate graphically the administrative structure of the different functional units within the Texas Public Utility Commission. Copies of the organization charts have been published in the Commission's annual report since 1979.
These records are arranged chronologically.
The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
(Identify the item), Organization charts, Records, Texas Public Utility Commission. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
Accession numbers: 1996/114, 1999/189, 2000/061, 2001/129, 2003/077
These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Public Utility Commission on May 30, 1996; July 22 and November 2, 1999; May 31, 2001; and November 20, 2002.
None.
None.
Laura K. Saegert, March 1998, March 2001, March 2003