Austin v. Centerpoint Energy Arkla

Tom Glaze, Justice.

This appeal flows from our court’s decision in Arkansas Gas Consumers, Inc. v. Arkansas Public Service Commission, 354 Ark. 37, 118 S.W.3d 109 (2003). In October of 2001, in recognition of the fact that the winter of 2000-2001 had been exceptionally harsh, the PSC published Order No. 1 in which it proposed a “Temporary Low Income Customer Gas Reconnection Policy” (“the Policy”). According to the Order, over 30,000 Arkansas gas customers had been disconnected for nonpayment of gas bills since the previous winter, with 29,500 still disconnected. The PSC stated that these…