By Tom Kleckner

The Texas Public Utility Commission agreed during a short emergency open meeting Monday to take steps to minimize physical contact during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Following social distancing best practices, the commissioners voted unanimously to suspend commission rules that require physical interactions, such as filing document hard copies, and said they may to loosen some deadlines related to the traditional filing approach. They also encouraged attendees to follow the PUC’s open meetings online when possible.

“Each and every Texan has an obligation to help ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 infections through the adoption of social distancing, and this agency is no exception,” PUC Chair DeAnn Walker said. “There will certainly be challenges as we transition to a remote approach, but diligent utilization of communications technology can keep us connected as we do what is best for Texans.”

The commission opened a docket in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for guidance on any laws that need to be suspended and other coronavirus-related matters (50664). Abbott declared a state of emergency Friday.

The PUC said it will continue conducting commission business. As a precautionary measure, it has instituted an agency-wide teleworking policy for the “foreseeable future,” with only certain “essential” personnel required to be on-site. The Customer Protection Division will continue fielding complaints.

Meanwhile, ERCOT on Monday extended its ban on in-person meetings and nonessential business travel and visitation restrictions to its facilities to May 3. The first among the first grid operators to issue such restrictions on March 3, ERCOT initially set the new protocols through March 15. That was quickly extended to March 31. (See NYISO, MISO Join Operators in Suspending In-person Meetings.)

The Board of Directors will convene its April 14 meeting by webinar to consider any matters that cannot be deferred until the its next regularly scheduled meeting in June.