Ambit Energy making refunds of power surcharge

Customers of Ambit Energy are reporting that they are getting full refunds of the "Power Cost Recovery Factor" the retail electric provider added to October bills to cover what it said were higher costs attributable to actions by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. (Click here to see the Star-Telegram's report.) There's also a correction to the company's previous statement justifying the charge, saying the PUC did not "impose" a wholesale price cap increase, but only approved  one. It also notes that the previous price cap wasn't exceeded. The notice concludes: "The PUC has determined that the PCRF was not permissible per commission rules. As a result, Ambit is providing a refund for the PCRF charges."

Shortly after the October bills went out, some customers filed complaints about the charge to the PUC in Austin. The agency's staff and company officials have  met since then, and the company's response "is consistent with what staff and Ambit have been working toward the past few weeks," said  PUC spokesman Terry Hadley. A company official wasn't immediately available for comment.

-- Jim Fuquay