for charging the highest rates in the state and was losing customers, called off plans for eight of the coal plants. TXU had invested more heavily in the other three plants. A few weeks later the buyers announced plans for two cleaner IGCC coal plants. There are positive environmental impacts from retail price deregulation as well. The profitable and growing Texas electricity market has drawn considerable investment by wind power companies. In July 2006, Texas surpassed California in wind energy production. Higher electricity prices encourage resident to reduce their electrical usage by using more moderate thermostat settings, installing insulation, installing solar screens, and other such activities. Texas utilities (such as Austin Energy) are also installing advanced electricity meters that may one day enable variable pricing based on the time of day. This would permit energy customers to save money by further tailoring their consumption based on whether it occurred during the peak demand period (high cost/high pollution) or the off-peak (night time). In 2018, Texas had the 12th highest per capita energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by state in the United States. Effect on renewable energy Due to the increased usage of natural gas immediately after deregulation, new-era energy tools such as wind power and smart-grid technology were greatly aided. Texas's first renewable portfolio standard — or requirement that the state's utilities get a certain amount of their power from renewable energy like wind — was signed into law in 1999, as part of the same legislation that deregulated the electric market. See also California electricity crisis Electricity provider switching Law of Texas Oncor Electric Delivery Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) References http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/commit/c850/c850_78.htm Assessing climate sensitivity of peak electricity load for resilient power systems planning and operation: A study applied to the Texas region External links PowerToChoose.org Marketplace Operated by the Public Utilities Commission of Texas Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Public Utilities Commission of Texas website Texas Chamber of Commerce Energy Association 2002 in Texas Economic liberalization Economics of regulation Economy of Texas Energy policy of the United States Texas law United States administrative law Energy in Texas