Seeking lower electricity rates, residents in two East Texas towns hope the state will intervene

This isn’t the first time residents sued a municipal utility for better rates.

In 2012, residents who were served by Austin Energy but lived outside of Austin city limits contested their rates with the PUC. They ultimately settled with Austin Energy, receiving a discount on electric rates. A similar result could come of the case filed by residents outside of Jasper.

“The idea is that you can control through your vote who is on the board of directors,” said Beth Garza, a senior fellow at R Street, a policy think tank. “When the utility serves people outside of the city limits, those customers can appeal to the PUC.”