Hey friend -
It’s been a crazy week for Texas. From your Debt Collective comrades, we hope you are safe and well, and that you, your family and friends are recovering from last week’s events.
What is happening in Texas is an outrage. It’s scandalous that during such a horrific time following the lack of power and water for millions that many are now struggling with skyrocketing power bills. Governor Abbot’s focus on the private market instead of Texans was obvious last week when the Public Utility Commission had an emergency meeting and decided to raise the price of energy on Monday -- before the damage even started.* Although they claim they did this to incentivize electricity companies to provide more power, the opposite has happened -- not only did 1 in 3 Texans go without lights or heat, now millions are suffering from astronomical electricity bills, or we can anticipate them in the future.
If you're in Texas and struggling with high bills or need support, check out our simple guide on how to deal with your electricity bills, who to submit complaints to if your electricity provider isn’t working with you, and mutual aid resources and networks you can connect with that can help.
Abbott and the State Government have said they’re pausing electricity bills temporarily while they try to figure out what to do about the exponential rates. But we know what they should do -- they should cancel this debt, and we should move to public control and ownership of our grid. If you agree, help make sure they hear from us: click here to send an email to Governor Abbot and Texas Representatives demanding they cancel these bills and move toward electric for all -- and share it with your friends!
Now is our time to connect and support each other to get through these trying times -- and unite to organize to change these conditions in the future. Help us do it: share our guide and send an email now!
What’s happening in Texas is a perfect example of why we at the Debt Collective are building our debtor union. Alone your utility debts can feel terrifying. But together they show that the system is broken, and we can change that system together. Together, we will build power to take back our power -- and ensure power for all.
Yours for warmer days and lights in every home,
Texas Debt Collective
PS - Have ideas or additions for our guide? We’ll keep updating it, so if you have any tips, advice or ideas on what we should add to it, reply to this email or post in our community forum!
* https://www.puc.texas.gov/51617WinterERCOTOrder.pdf
