Act Now Before It’s Too Late: Stop the Attack on Affordable Power for Rural Texans

Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to defend rural Texans from harmful legislation. But the fight isn’t over—and if you haven’t taken action yet, now is the time.

A reckless pole attachment bill is about to be voted on in the Texas House. It would raise energy costs for rural Texans and undermine your co-op’s ability to provide safe, reliable, affordable electricity.

Currently, electric cooperatives have a fair agreement with telecom companies to share utility poles. This partnership allows telecom companies to expand services into rural areas, while co-ops can continue providing safe, reliable and affordable electricity.

But this bill threatens to disrupt this agreement in dangerous ways:

• Higher Electric Bills: This bill forces co-ops to let telecom companies use their poles at rates so low they don’t cover costs, shifting the financial burden to hard-working Texans.
• Unsafe Conditions: It lets telecom companies bypass co-op safety standards and hijack private property without the owner’s permission — putting reliable electric service at risk.
• Halting Rural Development: This bill causes endless litigation on every rate, cost, fee, or reliability requirement that co-ops need to keep their systems safe. These contested cases could take years, stopping rural development in its tracks.

Electric co-ops are committed to serving our rural communities. But this legislation puts the needs of major corporations above those of everyday Texans.

The vote is happening soon, and we need your help to stop this reckless pole attachment bill before it’s too late. Speak out now and tell your representatives to stand with their communities by opposing House Bill 3448.