Texas Residents Save More Than $20 Million On Electrical Costs
STAP is a nonprofit corporation run entirely by public officials with membership available to all political subdivisions in Texas
 South Texas Aggregation Project, Inc. (STAP) announced today that its members have saved more than $20 million on electric costs in 2006, approximately 32 percent off of the Price to Beat rate. In the five years since the Texas electric market was deregulated January 1, 2002, STAP members have saved nearly $68 million on electric prices.
STAP is a nonprofit corporation run entirely by public officials with membership available to all political subdivisions in Texas that purchase electricity for public facilities. STAP members include 41 cities, 1 Water Authority, 1 Water Improvement District, 1 River Authority, 1 Transit Authority, and 3 Housing Authorities.
City business needs electricity -- and lots of it. Since the City's operations are funded by taxpayer money, electricity costs are always an important issue. Jim Darling, STAP Board Chairman and City Commissioner for the City of McAllen stated that, "We all have a public trust to save city funds in any responsible way we can. Every dollar saved in energy costs can be dedicated to other pressing community needs. STAP has proven its worth in producing results."
STAP got its start as a way for cities throughout South Texas to collectively address electric purchasing issues in the newly deregulated market. Beginning in 2002, cities and other political subdivisions combined their individual needs for electricity and negotiated with power producers for discounted rates through STAP. This type of volume purchasing means more clout to demand accountability from electric providers, lower prices and better contract terms for all members of the group. "The retail market in Texas is extremely complex," said Mr. Darling, "and it was much more efficient for over 40 cities to work together in figuring out the deregulated marketplace than for each city to develop in-house expertise.
Furthermore, the combined electric load of 47 members is much more attractive to competing electric providers than the load of any one single
city. STAP's bargaining strength has led to lower costs for all members."
*Editors' Note: STAP members include Alamo, Alice, Alton, Aransas Pass, Beeville, Bishop, Carrizo Springs, Charlotte, Corpus Christi, Corpus
Christi Regional Transit Authority, Dilley, Edna, Fulton, George West, Harlingen, Housing Authority of Corpus Christi, Housing Authority of
Harlingen, Housing Authority of McAllen, Ingleside, Ingleside on the Bay,Kenedy, Kingsville, La Feria, Laguna Vista, Lavaca Navidad River Authority,
Los Fresnos, Lyford, McAllen, Mercedes, Mission, Odem, Orange Grove, Pharr, Pleasanton, Point Comfort, Port Aransas, Port Lavaca, Portland, Refugio, Rio Grande City, Rockport, San Juan, Sinton, South Padre Island, South Texas Water Authority, Taft, Victoria, and Woodsboro.
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