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Saturday, December 2, 2023 was a beautiful day and a good-size crowd came out for the 2023 Joaquin Christmas Festival, car show, and parade.
December 1, 2023 - Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) to Set New Limit on Wholesale Electricity Prices During Emergencies
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has voted to immediately implement a new Emergency Pricing Program (EPP) for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power region. The EPP was required by Senate Bill 3 of the 87th Texas Legislature and will limit consumer exposure to high wholesale electricity prices during power emergencies.
“Implementing the Emergency Pricing Program provides another layer of financial protection for Texas consumers and will ensure their electricity bills remain affordable even when conditions are tight in the ERCOT system,” PUCT Executive Director Thomas Gleeson said. “This is a key part of our ongoing work to ensure electric reliability for Texans at a reasonable cost.”
The Commission approved the program during its Open Meeting on Thursday through amendments to Section 25.509 of the PUCT’s Substantive Rules.
Current PUCT rules cap wholesale electricity offers at $5,000 per MWh. This “offer cap,” also known as the high system-wide offer cap (HCAP), is a cap on the price at which generators can offer wholesale electricity to retail electric providers that serve and bill individual customers.
The new EPP will trigger if system-wide energy prices hit the $5,000 per MWh HCAP threshold for 12 hours within a rolling 24-hour period. When the EPP is activated, a new emergency offer cap (ECAP) will take effect, reducing the cap on wholesale electricity offers to $2,000 per MWh and ultimately further protect consumers.
The EPP and $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap would remain in effect until 24 hours after the EPP is activated, or, if ERCOT is in emergency operations while the EPP is active, 24 hours after ERCOT exits emergency operations. ERCOT must issue a notice to market participants both when the EPP is activated and when the EPP ends.
While the EPP is active and to account for variability in fuel costs, generators are eligible to be reimbursed by ERCOT for any actual marginal costs they incur above the $2,000 per MWh emergency offer cap. To recover actual marginal costs above the HCAP ($5,000 per MWh), a generator must submit additional attestations and information to ERCOT justifying any exceedances.
Within 10 working days of the end of an EPP event, ERCOT must report to the PUCT a summary of the event and analysis of the EPP’s performance. Within 90 calendar days, ERCOT must report the number of generators that filed for cost recovery and the total amount reimbursed. Beginning Jan. 1 2026, the PUCT will conduct a comprehensive review of the EPP and all other system-wide offer cap programs every five years to evaluate their performance.
El Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) establecerá un nuevo límite en los precios mayoristas de la electricidad durante las emergencias
La Comisión de Servicios Públicos de Texas (PUCT, por sus siglas en inglés) votó para implementar de inmediato un nuevo Programa de Precios de Emergencia (EPP, por sus siglas en inglés) para la región de energía del Consejo de Confiabilidad Eléctrica de Texas (ERCOT, por sus siglas en inglés). El EPP fue requerido por el Proyecto de Ley Senatorial 3 de la Legislatura 87º de Texas y limitará la exposición de los consumidores a los altos precios mayoristas de electricidad durante emergencias eléctricas.
"La implementación del Programa de Precios de Emergencia proporciona otra capa de protección financiera para los consumidores de Texas y garantizará que sus facturas de electricidad sigan siendo asequibles incluso cuando las condiciones son difíciles en el sistema ERCOT", dijo el director ejecutivo de PUCT, Thomas Gleeson. "Esta es una parte clave de nuestro trabajo continuo para garantizar la confiabilidad eléctrica para los tejanos a un costo razonable".
La Comisión aprobó el programa durante su Reunión Abierta a través de enmiendas a la Sección 25.509 de las Reglas Sustantivas de la PUCT.
Las reglas actuales de la PUCT limitan las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 5.000 dólares por MWh (HCAP). Este "tope de oferta" es un tope en el precio al que los generadores pueden ofrecer electricidad al por mayor a los proveedores minoristas que sirven y facturan clientes individuales.
El nuevo EPP se activará si los precios de la energía en todo el sistema alcanzan el umbral de 5.000 dólares por MWh HCAP durante 12 horas dentro de un período de 24 horas consecutivas. Cuando se active el EPP, entrará en vigor un nuevo tope de oferta de emergencia (ECAP, por sus siglas en inglés), que reducirá el tope de las ofertas mayoristas de electricidad a 2.000 dólares por MWh.
El EPP y el límite de oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh permanecerían vigentes hasta 24 horas después de que se active el EPP o, si ERCOT está en operaciones de emergencia mientras el EPP está activo, 24 horas después de que ERCOT salga de las operaciones de emergencia. ERCOT debe emitir un aviso a los participantes del mercado tanto cuando se activa el EPP como cuando finaliza el EPP.
Mientras el EPP esté activo y para tener en cuenta la variabilidad en los costos de combustible, los generadores tienen derecho a que ERCOT les reembolse los costos marginales reales en los que incurran por encima del tope de la oferta de emergencia de $2,000 por MWh. Para recuperar los costos marginales reales por encima del HCAP ($5,000 por MWh), un generador debe presentar atestaciones e información adicionales a ERCOT.
Dentro de los 10 días hábiles posteriores a la finalización de un evento de EPP, ERCOT debe informar a la PUCT un resumen de el evento y análisis de la actuación del PPE. Dentro de los 90 días de calendario, ERCOT debe informar el número de generadores que solicitaron la recuperación de costos y el monto total reembolsado. A partir del 1 de enero de 2026, la PUCT llevará a cabo una revisión exhaustiva del EPP y de todos los demás programas de tope de ofertas de todo el sistema cada cinco años para evaluar su desempeño.
November 30, 2023 - The intersection of Hurst Street and Roughrider Drive in Center was the scene of a three-vehicle crash November 15, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at 8:10pm a blue 2005 Ford Mustang driven by a 17-year-old driver from Center was northbound on Hurst Street and began turning left onto Roughtrider Drive through an unprotected green light. At that time a white 2024 Buick Encore driven by Denny King, 49, of Center was southbound on Hurst Street in the inside lane when the driver of the Mustang failed to yield right of way to the Buick and King veered in an attempt to avoid colliding with the Mustang.
The Mustang struck the Buick, causing damage to the right front quarter panel. A white 2022 Ford Bronco driven by Amber Scates, 28, of Center was traveling behind the Buick and attempted to avoid the collision; however, the Bronco struck the Buick causing damage to both vehicles due to wet roadway conditions.
King was transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for medical assessment. Her two 14-year old passengers were not reported to have been injured.
Scates and a 3-year-old and 8-year-old passenger were not reported to have been injured.
The 17-year-old, as well as a 17-year-old passenger and an 18-year-old passenger were not reported to have been injured.
Citations were issued to the driver of the Mustang for failure to yield right of way and no driver’s license.
Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Dustin Ramos assisted officers at the scene of the crash.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert assisted by Officer Bobby Hudnall.
Update at 12:52pm - Roadway has been cleared and has been opened up to traffic.
November 29, 2023 - Center Police Department officers are on scene on Hurst Street at the intersection of Sanders Street where a truck tractor lost its load of equipment as of 12-noon, November 29, 2023.
Drivers should use caution and consider an alternate route until the equipment has been removed.
The southbound traffic lanes are currently blocked and some traffic is being allowed to pass on the shoulder.
November 28, 2023 - The intersection of hurst Street and Cass-Caid Drive was the scene of a single-vehicle crash on Thursday, November 23, 2023.
According to the Center Police Department, at 1:35am a maroon Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck driven by Jorge Vazquez, 21, of Center was northbound in the 800 block of Hurst Street when the Ram left the roadway to the right and struck a concrete drainage culvert, flipping over onto its top, and crossing the 100 block of Cass-Caid Drive. The Ram landed in the parking lot of Roughrider Quick Lube.
During the crash, the Ram struck a metal trash can and a water meter. Vazquez stated he fell asleep.
Vazquez was transported from the scene by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injury.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert.
November 28, 2023 - The interment of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Flags should be raised to full-staff following sunset tomorrow.
November 28, 2023 - FM 2468 at the intersection of FM 699 in Center was the scene of a fatal crash on the morning of November 23, 2023.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to the location at 4:02am.
According to information released by Center Police Sgt. Bubba Lee, at an unknown time, a blue Hyundai Elantra driven by Pablo Alejandro Leandro, 24, of Nacogdoches was traveling southeast at a high rate of speed on Portacool Way (FM 2468) when the Hyundai failed to stop at the intersection of Cotton Ford Road.
The Hyundai continued across the intersection and left the roadway before going airborne across a ditch before striking an embankment and metal culvert. The force of the collision was severe and the vehicle continued in a southeastern direction, landing between a utility pole and small tree.
Leandro suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced at the scene by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Precinct 1, and an autopsy was ordered. Leandro was transported by Watson and Sons Funeral Home.
The crash was investigated by Center Police Officer Donna Ruppert. Center Fire Department personnel assisted at the incident location.
The crash remains under investigation.
November 27, 2023 - The SCSO is investigating the theft of a 2013 Artic Cat 700 Prowler. The side by side was taken from a hunting lease in the 8000 block of US 96 S between November 20 - November 23, 2023.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Aaron Jones at 936-598-5601 or 936-572-7559.
November 21, 2023 - Street improvement work contracted with Drewery Construction by the Street Improvement Corporation of the City was initiated today by a subcontractor without required advance notice to residents and City staff.
Streets obstructed due to construction activities today will be opened for normal traffic by Wednesday evening as not to interfere with regular traffic access during the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend.
November 21, 2023 - Shelby County Courthouse offices are scheduled to be open from 8am until 1pm on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday..
The Shelby County Clerk’s office will be closed at 12-noon.
All offices will be closed until Monday, November 27 when they will re-open during normal scheduled hours.
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