The string of woes for Texans does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Even though the electricity did come back to the state on Friday after almost 2,00,000 power outages in the state last week, there are other problems that are now emerging. One of those is the outrageous amounts of electricity bills that are being handed over to its residents.
Texas residents are taking to Twitter to share screen grabs of their electricity bills that are as high as $17,000. According to a report by ABC News affiliate WFAA in Dallas, a man named Ty Williams sent them screenshots of his three electric meters, one for his home, one for a guest house, and one for his office. The bill for all three was at $660 last month however, this month after the power outages in the middle of arctic snowstorm, he owes more than $17,000 to the provider. Speaking to WFAA, Williams said, how in the world can anyone pay that much of an amount since there is absolutely no way and it makes no sense.
In another tweet, one user mentioned that some Texas electricity customers saw the price of a kilowatt hour go from 12 cents to $9 in the past week that has led to bills in the thousands.
Some Texas electricity customers saw the price of a kilowatt hour go from 12 cents to $9 in the past week, leading to bills in the thousands. Yikes. 😱 pic.twitter.com/r486zYn6D7— Phil Taylor (@pstni) February 22, 2021
Texas got a lot of nerve putting people in deadly situations with no electricity in freezing temps during a pandemic AND charging them hundreds & thousands more on their electric bill. pic.twitter.com/o2yutmiNsO— I Choose Violence (@Brick_Outhouse) February 21, 2021
The report further mentions that Williams was on a variable-rate plan with electricity provider Griddy. The company is facing flak for trying to avert devastating electric bills for its customers by encouraging them to leave and find a fixed-rate plan with other providers.
Netizens are livid with the inflated electricity bills as some question if they would have to take a loan to pay off the due amount.
I really do NOT understand how the electricity bills work in #Texas. If I received a bill for $10,000 from DTE, I would have a cow! How the Hell does that even work? Are you supposed to take out a loan to pay for your electricity? #TexasBlackout pic.twitter.com/FZ9RgqiocO— CyndiMich Formerly @Cyn190 (@cyndi_mich) February 21, 2021
While many are questioning Texas' Republican senator Ted Cruz who has already irked the residents of his state as he continues to display his ignorance to the on-ground situation.
Hey Rafael, did you receive a $10K electricity bill while you work against pandemic relief for Texas?#HoustonStrong #AmericanRescuePlan https://t.co/TkFsYRtNO9 pic.twitter.com/J5KuzrquAo— (((Tam))) #SeditionHasConsequences #ONEV1 Z31 (@Tam_Resist) February 21, 2021
i’m still blown away that the state of texas has gone all the way texas and told america “we got our own generator” and the damn thing basically crapped out and look at em now.— bomani (@bomani_jones) February 18, 2021
According to a report by Bloomberg, Texas Governor Greg Abbott held an emergency meeting regarding the issue on Saturday with state legislators. Republican Representative Michael McCaul said on Sunday that at present the government is planning to use federal assistance funding to help homeowners with both post-storm repairs, such as for water damage and pipe bursting, and the shocking electricity bills.