Texas Republicans kiss TXU

While Republican legislators kiss TXU, it's the Texas public that gets screwed.

Under pending legislation [HB 1190], TXU could possibly hold onto all of its big electric generators in areas of Texas where the company has been accused of using its market dominance to unfairly jack up profits.

Instead, the company and other big power generators would have to get approval for regulatory plans showing how they would not unfairly benefit from their market position. Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, is sponsoring the legislation, the House version of Senate Bill 483.

But some consumer groups have said King's version represents a watered-down version of the Senate bill. The Senate legislation includes more stringent language regarding company divestitures.

TXU, which controls more wholesale generation in North Texas than any other company, has been accused of using its market position to unfairly manipulate the wholesale market. As a result, it has unfairly increased profits, according to a market monitor at the Public Utility Commission.