Compliance Guide: PowerCord Energy and PUCT Regulatory Alignment

PowerCord Energy is a registered electricity broker in the Texas ERCOT deregulated market, operating under PUCT broker registration BR240257.

This guide covers four topics: how PUCT Substantive Rules 25.471 and 25.486 apply to PowerCord's enrollment process, what disclosures residents receive, how the Continuous Service Agreement works under PUCT rules, and where PowerCord's compliance obligations begin and end. It was written by the PowerCord Energy team based on direct operational experience in the Texas deregulated market.

Is PowerCord Energy a Licensed Electricity Broker in Texas?

Yes. PowerCord Energy holds PUCT electricity broker registration BR240257 and operates exclusively in the Texas ERCOT deregulated market. Broker registration allows PowerCord to coordinate enrollment between a resident and a licensed REP without acting as the electricity provider itself.

PowerCord does not generate electricity, set rates, or issue electricity bills. PowerCord's role is to coordinate the enrollment workflow between the resident, the property management system, and the REP.

What Is PUCT Substantive Rule 25.471?

PUCT Substantive Rule 25.471 is the Customer Protection Rule for retail electricity providers and brokers in Texas. It requires that customers receive clear disclosure of contract terms, pricing, and rights before enrollment is completed.

PowerCord complies with Rule 25.471 by delivering the Electricity Facts Label (EFL) and Terms of Service (TOS) to each resident before enrollment is finalized. The resident reviews and approves these documents. Enrollment does not proceed without that approval.

In practice: PowerCord sends the required disclosures via the enrollment email. The resident must complete the review step before the contract becomes active. No enrollment happens automatically without resident acknowledgment.

What Is PUCT Substantive Rule 25.486?

PUCT Substantive Rule 25.486 governs the retail electricity provider's obligations for customer enrollment, service initiation, and contract management. It establishes requirements for enrollment accuracy, service dates, switch confirmations, and lawful billing practices.

PowerCord aligns its enrollment workflow with Rule 25.486 by ensuring that resident contract start dates match the lease start date exactly, and contract end dates match the lease termination date. Service does not begin before the lease starts, and termination does not happen before the lease ends.

What Disclosures Does PowerCord Send Residents Before Enrollment?

Before enrollment is finalized, PowerCord Energy delivers three documents required by PUCT rules:

• Electricity Facts Label (EFL) — shows the rate, contract term, provider name, and estimated cost at different usage levels.
• Terms of Service (TOS) — sets out the contractual obligations for both the resident and the provider.
• Your Rights as a Customer (YRAC) — a PUCT-mandated summary of customer protections in the Texas deregulated market.

The resident reviews all three documents before enrollment is finalized. PowerCord does not complete enrollment without this review step.

What Is a Continuous Service Agreement and How Does PUCT Require It?

A Continuous Service Agreement (CSA) is an electricity account held by the property owner that covers a unit when no resident electricity contract is active. Under Texas deregulated market rules, a unit cannot be connected to the grid without an active account. The CSA ensures the unit remains on a valid electricity contract during vacancies, preventing service interruption and keeping the unit in compliance.

PowerCord automates the CSA transition at both ends of the lease. When a lease ends, PowerCord transfers the unit to the owner's CSA on the lease termination date. When a new lease begins, PowerCord initiates enrollment and transfers service back to the resident on the lease start date. The CSA holds the unit only for the exact number of days between occupancies. This eliminates manual CSA management and reduces the vacancy electricity costs that accumulate when transitions are handled late or missed entirely.

What Compliance Obligations Does PowerCord Energy Not Cover?

PowerCord Energy's compliance obligations are limited to its own broker registration, enrollment workflow, and required disclosures. PowerCord does not guarantee property-level regulatory compliance. The property owner and property management company retain their own obligations under applicable state and local laws, fair housing rules, and lease terms. PowerCord's enrollment process is audit-ready, but the audit covers PowerCord's broker activity, not the property's broader regulatory posture.

PowerCord also does not provide legal advice. Property owners and operators with specific compliance questions about their obligations under Texas utility law should consult legal counsel.

Is PowerCord Energy's Enrollment Activity Audit-Ready?

Yes. PowerCord maintains records of enrollment events, disclosure delivery, resident acknowledgment, service start dates, service termination dates, and CSA transitions. These records are available for review in the event of a PUCT audit or dispute. PowerCord's enrollment workflow is designed to produce a complete, timestamped record for every unit, every lease cycle.