Texas has always prided itself on being "business-friendly." But when does that become just another way of saying "sucker"?

I think I have the answer, suckers.

That point comes during the hottest days of summer, when your electric utility company starts playing games to jack up already outrageous electric bills.

That's the accusation leveled this week against TXU. And when I think about all that "good neighbor, we're here to serve you" propaganda they've been peddling for years, it makes me want to retch.

When I think about poor, elderly folks who sweat and suffer through brutal summers, afraid to turn on their air conditioners because of the high cost, it makes me more than sick. It makes me want to storm the headquarters.

TXU denies that it did anything wrong – I think. In one of the most lifeless denials I have ever read, the company issued a statement this week saying: "We have thoroughly reviewed our conduct during the referenced time period, and believe it is consistent with the [Public Utility] Commission's rule and policies."

That really inspires confidence, doesn't it? In other words: "We don't think they can pin a thing on us."

Not a single word of denial that prices were, in fact, manipulated. No blanket assurances that lowest-possible prices were always offered.

Nope. Just: "We did what we thought we could get away with."

And you know what? They just might.

In our "business-friendly" environment, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if TXU officials found loopholes big enough to push a power plant through.

After all, our own state officials saw fit to do away with electricity-rate regulation, relying instead on "competition" to keep prices low.

But guess who has a market-controlling share of all electric generation in North Texas – particularly in the summer, when demand is greatest?

Did you say TXU?

Good answer, sucker.

I feel like a real chump because I was here last year preaching the importance of shopping around for electric providers. I was saying we have a duty to instill competition in the marketplace.

But the charge against TXU has nothing to do with retail providers. This is about artificially inflating prices at the wholesale level. So consumers get stuck no matter whom they're signed up with.

Incidentally, these allegations come from independent experts hired by the Texas Public Utility Commission to analyze market influences during the summer of 2005.

The way the electricity market works to meet peak demand is complicated stuff. But the analysts say TXU artificially boosted wholesale prices that summer by $70 million.

(Again, for proper indignation, picture those old folks sweltering through August, afraid to turn on air conditioners.)

Of that $70 million in excess, unnecessary charges, TXU pocketed a nice $19.6 million profit, the study concluded.

Here's the funny part: If the PUC decides to levy the maximum punishment against TXU for every single day of the four-month reporting period, the fine would only total $3 million.

To really eat into that nearly $20 million profit, the PUC will have to assess fines on multiple violations per day. That may be possible since some prices on the wholesale market are set every 15 minutes during peak-demand periods.

Looking for a bottom line here, let's simply check the price of electricity in Texas and in our neighboring states. According to the latest federal figures, these are average residential rates (per kilowatt-hour).

•Oklahoma – 7.73 cents

•Arkansas – 8.59 cents

•New Mexico – 8.69 cents

•Louisiana – 8.78 cents

•Texas – 12.15 cents

That puts our electric bills 57 percent higher than in Oklahoma and 44 percent higher than our four neighbors' average.

Very "business-friendly," wouldn't you say, suckers?