AARP filed comments in support of two petitions filed at the Public Utility Commission to adopt on an emergency basis new rules prohibiting the disconnection of electricity service through Sept. 30.

AARP's comments were in support of petitions filed recently by Sen. Juan Hinojosa and State Rep. Sylvester Turner, Texas Ratepayers Organization to Save Energy, Texas Legal Services Center and the Office of Public Utility Counsel.

"The PUC is responsible for protecting the people who are most susceptible to the heat and can't pay the outrageous electric bills that deregulation is requiring," said Bob Jackson, AARP Texas state director. Last year, state regulators rejected a petition for emergency disconnection rules in part by pointing to voluntary programs administered by one or two electric companies, said Jackson.

"We don't have the good luck of mild weather like last year. This year, life and death protections are too critical to be left to the whims of a deregulated electric market that has failed to deliver anything to consumers except bills they can't afford," the AARP director said.

According to the Center for Disease Control, those 65 years and older are more prone to heat stroke, heat exhaustion and even death from extreme heat.

The combination of record temperatures and skyrocketing rates has created extremely high bills for many Texans. Under current PUC rules, those unable to pay their bills face disconnections during dangerously hot conditions.

PUC rules only prohibit electricity disconnections on days when local National Weather Service offices issue a heat advisory. However, NWS offices throughout Texas often wait to issue advisories when temperatures are dangerously high or they do not issue heat advisories at all, Jackson said.

"The Legislature came within minutes of passing a bill to provide disconnection protections last year. The fact that we have to ask the PUC to adopt this emergency protection only highlights the need for a legislative solution for this continuing problem."

AARP is a nonprofit membership organization that helps those ages 50 and above.