As if he froze for days and lived with outrages of power weren’t bad enough, some Texans now have to deal with the huge financial consequences of the storm. The most recent scam came through electricity bills, some of which reached exorbitant amounts that could reach $ 5,000 or even $ 17,000 for just a few days.
Energy supplier customers Griddy they expressed despair and frustration over those accounts after one of the worst winter storms that hit the state in recent years. Griddy offers its customers variable wholesale plans with rates per kilowatt hour tied to market prices, which have risen to the state-imposed ceiling of $ 9,000 a megawatt hour for five days this week. Sometimes, plans like the ones offered by Griddy mean that customers save money when the cost of energy is low. However, when prices go up, it can spell trouble.
These types of plans are is not the norm; most Texans have flat-rate energy plans. In comparison, Griddy has 29,000 customers.
Ty Williams, a Griddy customer from Arlington, told a local Fox affiliate that he and his family were lucky because they never lost power during the storm. Apparently, that luck didn’t come cheap: Griddy charged $ 17,000 for five days of use.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, another Griddy customer said he received a $ 5,000 bill for use since last Saturday for his 2,700 square foot home, according to the Dallas Morning News. The agency reported that another Griddy customer also got a $ 5,000 bill for his 900-square-foot two-story home.
G / O Media can receive a commission
Social media was also full of screenshots and reports of Griddy’s astronomical accounts.
Last weekend, Griddy warned your customers who expected significantly higher prices in the near future. I even told all of them that they must change to another provider.
But it was easier said than done. Williams, the Griddy customer from Arlington, said he tried to switch suppliers, but was informed that the change would take at least a week. Griddy customers who spoke the Morning News reported similar experiences. Fox reported that Williams finally managed to switch later this week.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called an emergency meeting on Saturday with other state officials to discuss the increase in energy bills.
“It is unacceptable that Texans who suffered for days in the freezing cold without electricity or heat are hit by skyrocketing energy costs,” Abbott said in a statement. demonstration. “To protect families, I am actively working with the vice governor, the mayor and members of the legislature to develop solutions to ensure that Texans are not caught in excessive spikes in their energy bills.”
At the moment, it is not clear whether Texans will be able to get help to pay their very high electricity bills. There is an option at stake: a federal block grant that the state recently received, which includes relief for utility bills. We try to learn more about granting the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs website, which Texans should check, but fell on Saturday.
Griddy on Friday said it was seeking relief of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, an entity that operates the state’s electricity grid and manages the deregulated energy market.
“On Tuesday, Griddy started getting involved with ERCOT and the [Public Utility Commission of Texas] seeking client relief. Griddy is continuing these efforts and is committed to crediting customers for any relief received, dollar for dollar, ”said the company.
He also said, strangely, that “customers who had left to avoid off-market prices quickly requested to re-enroll and return to our platform.” Considering this week’s prices, it’s kind of hard to believe. Still, if It is Indeed, it is even more alarming that Texans can still sign up for plans like the ones offered by Griddy.
Earther we contacted Griddy for comment, but did not receive a response from the company. We received an automatic response stating that Griddy has a deferred payment plan option to help members settle negative balances over time in installments and ensure that their energy is not cut. It was not comforting.