Peter Lake, chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), has tendered his resignation.
Lake will continue to serve as a commissioner until July 1, according to a news release from the Texas Governor’s Office on Friday.
“Peter Lake is a true public servant who stepped up during a critical time in our state to help rebuild not only the PUC, but Texans’ trust in those charged with providing reliable power,” said Governor Greg Abbott in the release. “I thank Lake for his service to Texas and his tireless work to secure and strengthen our state’s power grid.”
In an emailed statement, Lake said he was satisfied to have helped PUCT “keep the lights on” for Texans, according to the Houston Chronicle.
He added that PUCT was “well positioned to continue the incredible progress” seen since he joined the agency in the wake of Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
PUCT oversees the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which many blamed for the power grid’s failure during the deep freeze and the subsequent deaths of over 200 Texans.
In April, Texas lawmakers set their sights on measures of reform to ensure the reliability of the state’s electrical grid in the future, as The Dallas Express reported.
ERCOT has recently warned of potential summer shortages during extreme weather conditions, given a lack of dispatchable power.
Lake, who has also served as chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, was slated to act as PUCT chairman until September 1.
While a new chairman will be named by Abbott in the coming days, Lake’s sudden departure without citing a specific reason has left many wondering why.
Lake had been behind the conception of a plan to shore up ERCOT’s power grid that PUCT passed in early January.
Yet this plan was ultimately significantly altered by April’s legislative reform, which favored ensuring the construction of new fossil fuel-fired power plants with low-cost loans and bonuses to boost the grid.
Ed Hirs, an energy fellow at the University of Houston, suggested to the Houston Chronicle that Lake’s resignation was akin to saying, “Well, guys, you need new leadership” after his plan lacked support among lawmakers.
