Lawmakers push to revive fund inspired by Sylvester Turner to help low-income Texans with power bills

Claire Hao | Source: Houston Chronicle | Posted 04/14/2025

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Session after session, then-state Rep. Sylvester Turner introduced legislation to force Texas lawmakers to spend hundreds of millions of dollars collected from utility ratepayers for the money’s intended purpose: Helping low-income families pay their electricity bills.

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Lawmakers in Texas are seeking to revive a fund aimed at assisting low-income families with their electricity bills, inspired by the late Sylvester Turner, who championed similar initiatives during his tenure. Despite repeated attempts by Turner to allocate funds collected from utility ratepayers for their intended purpose, previous efforts often fell short, with funds being redirected to fill budget gaps instead. The original System Benefit Fund, which provided assistance to low-income Texans, was ultimately shuttered in 2016 after the surcharge financing it was eliminated.

In the wake of Turner's passing, legislators are considering new proposals to create a fund that would be financed by taxpayer dollars rather than surcharges on electricity bills. Advocates emphasize the need for a reliable funding source to ensure that assistance reaches those in need, especially as electricity rates continue to rise. The proposed legislation aims to secure $250 million for the new fund, with lawmakers expressing hope that it can provide much-needed relief to struggling Texans while learning from past mistakes associated with the original fund.

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Source Link: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/texas-lawmakers-push-fund-aid-low-income-20239879.php

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Lawmakers push to revive fund inspired by Sylvester Turner to help low-income Texans with power bills

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