Unregulated Energy Market Left ‘Lucky’ Texans With Thousands in Power Bills

The Texans who were lucky enough to have not lost power during the winter storm are getting hit with a blizzard of bills, leaving some owing as much as $16,752. Because Texas has an unregulated energy market and their own grid, some power companies enact surge-pricing that increases as demand goes up and supply goes down. Ted Cruz is still in hot water for abandoning his state during the storm and fleeing to Cancun, Mexico, last week. Pranksters hired a Mariachi band to play outside his house.