Patrick Rose

Co-op issues bill credits

Pedernales Electric Cooperative will issue $4.7 million in bill credits to its customers this month as part of a provision in a contested settlement in a member-led lawsuit, the co-op said Wednesday.

The move marks the first round of bill credits that will be issued as part of a five-year plan for the Johnson City-based utility, which has 226,000-plus member-owners.

In May, the co-op reached a settlement in a yearlong member-led lawsuit, agreeing to issue about $23 million in bill credits over a five-year period. The settlement is being contested in the 3rd Court of Appeals; however, Pedernales has decided to move forward with the credits.