Texas utilities spent $58 million on 'legislative matters' since 2021
What's documented Figures pulled from utilities' own annual filings with the Texas Public Utility Commission, cross-checked against Texas Ethics Commission lobbying disclosures.
CenterPoint Energy, Oncor and Entergy Texas reported a combined $58.06 million in "legislative matters" spending to state regulators between 2021 and 2025, even though Texas law bars utilities from billing customers for lobbying costs. The spending clustered around the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions, when the same utilities backed bills that sped up their own path to rate increases.
- CenterPoint Energy led with $25.29 million in reported "legislative matters" spending 2021-2025, followed by Oncor at $16.7 million and Entergy Texas at $16.04 million.
- Texas law bars utilities from recovering lobbying costs from ratepayers, but allows recovery of up to 0.3% of gross receipts for "ordinary advertising, contributions, and donations."
- Utilities backed SB 1015, which let them file distribution rate increases twice a year instead of once and cut PUCT review time from 145 to 60 days.
- Oncor reported a 65% year-over-year profit increase in Q2 2026, the same quarter its $560 million base rate increase took effect.
- Utility employees spent $1.24 million on lobbying-related expenditures, food and drinks alone totaling $1,019,986, between January 2021 and July 2026.