Last year in Patel v. Texas Dep’t of Licensing and Regulation,1 this Court struck down as unconstitutional regulation requiring eyebrow threaders take 750 hours of immaterial classwork before the government permitted them to pursue their chosen profession. In the present case, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has promulgated a ridiculous and oppressive interpretation of the state’s tiered house laws, which wrongly denies the Petitioner their right to participate in economic activity, as per Patel. Indeed, the majority opinion in Patel laid out a two prong test, where the satisfaction of either signaled the law’s constitutional infirmity. The so-called “One Share Rule” falls afoul of both. Not only does it establish a standard that is impossible to meet, but it is also completely unmoored from a legitimate governmental interest.
The Explosion of Transmission Costs in ERCOT: Causes, Forecasts, and Policy Solutions
KEY POINTS • Transmission costs in ERCOT rose from $1.5 billion in 2010 to over $5 billion in 2024 and could increase to over $12 billion per year by 2033. • After adjusting for inflation and overall rising electricity demand, the average ratepayer in the ERCOT region paid 57% more in transmission charges in 2024...