Last week, at least 4 million people in Texas went without electricity during the coldest snap in decades. The outcomes from this have been horrific: at least 20 lives were lost; millions are still without access to clean water; and families are struggling to put the pieces back together after a winter of being left out in the cold. But now, Texans are facing a new challenge: skyrocketing electricity prices. Many are seeing rate increases into the thousands, or we can anticipate them in the future.

We were already in a global pandemic with millions losing their jobs and their health insurance, and now we’re adding losing power and having to pay back thousands in bills, all because the State Government refuses to be part of the national grid and instead lets the market exploit customers. This isn’t fair. Governor Abbott has paused electricity bills temporarily and claims they’re looking into what should happen into the future. But we already know: these bills should be cancelled. Not only that, but Texas needs to structurally change our whole energy system so it’s providing power to the people, all the time. That means putting it back in the hands of the people, not corporations.

Federal and State Representatives, and even electric companies themselves, are calling for intervention from the State government to cancel these electricity bills. Make sure Governor Abbott knows how important this issue is to all Texans. Enter your zipcode to send an email to Governor Abbott and your Texas Representatives to show your support to cancel these bills and move to electricity as a public utility in Texas.