Volunteer Guide
Thanks for showing up. This page covers where to go, what to expect, and a sample script for your testimony. Bookmark this link — you won't find it in our site navigation, so keep it handy for the day of.
Senate Business & Commerce Committee — Room E1.012, Texas Capitol Extension.
1201 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, Texas 78701.
From the parking garage, walk along 12th St until you're on the capitol grounds, then head toward the East Entrance and go through security there.
Questions before you go? Email info@ratepayersfirst.org anytime and we're happy to help. If you need us day-of, reach out and we'll do what we can from where we're stationed.
Come find us before the hearing starts. We'll be set up at the Legislative Conference Center (Room E2.002), one floor below the hearing room, starting at 8:00 AM. It's our home base for the day if you want to review your testimony with us, ask questions, or meet other volunteers before heading up to Room E1.012.
If Room E1.012 fills up and there's overflow, this is also where we'll regroup. Check in with us at the Legislative Conference Center and we'll help you find a seat, an overflow viewing area, or coordinate when you'll be called to testify.
You'll be sharing a short personal statement (1–2 minutes, per committee rules) about how rising electric bills and/or the proposed 765-kV transmission lines have affected you. The more personal the better — legislators need to hear directly from Texans paying these bills and living near these proposed lines.
When you arrive, sign in on the check-in iPad in the hall outside Room E1.012. There's likely only one iPad, so a volunteer will be there to walk you back and make sure you get registered.
Indicate whether you want to testify on the electric grid agenda item, the 765-kV transmission lines agenda item, or both.
Briefly tell the committee your name, where you're from, and why this issue matters to you: "Chairman Schwertner and Members, my name is _____, and I'm here to testify on [the electric grid / the 765-kV transmission lines]."
You may be asked a question or two, but most testimony is brief and conversational.
What to wear: Business casual or professional attire. Think clean, respectful, and camera-ready — Capitol hearings are livestreamed and archived.
Use this as a starting point, not a script to read word-for-word. The personal details are what land — swap in your own story wherever you see brackets.
1. The State of the Texas Electric Grid: grid reliability rulemaking, transmission cost allocation, and ERCOT's ability to forecast and meet demand, including lessons from Winter Storm Uri.
2. Impacts of 765-kV Transmission Lines on Private Property: proposed line routes and whether landowners have enough say before their property is affected, including eminent domain protections and impact on land use and value.
3. What This Could Mean for Landowners: faster or slower approval timelines for new transmission lines, and stronger or weaker protections against eminent domain seizures.
Why it matters: This is one of the last chances for ratepayers to shape these rules before they take effect. RatepayersFirst wants Texans in the room to make sure lawmakers hear directly from the people paying the bills.
"Good morning, Chairman Schwertner and Members of the Committee. My name is [Full Name], and I'm from [City]. I'm here to testify on the Texas electric grid and the proposed 765-kV transmission lines."
"I'm a [homeowner / farmer / rancher / small business owner] from [City/County], and rising electric costs affect me directly. [If near a proposed 765-kV line: I want to share how it would affect my property.]"
"[Insert your personal story here — for example: how much your bill has gone up and since when; how a proposed 765-kV line would cross your property, farm, or business; concerns about eminent domain, land value, or long-term impact; how you experienced Winter Storm Uri or other reliability issues; confusion or frustration with how transmission costs show up on your bill; what you want the committee to do differently.]"
"Texas ratepayers deserve a say in decisions that raise our bills and affect our land. I'm asking this committee to protect landowners in the transmission siting process and keep electricity costs affordable for Texas families. Thank you."
These are the eleven senators who will hear your testimony on July 29. Names link to each senator's official page on the Texas Legislature Online site.
Email us anytime at info@ratepayersfirst.org — we're happy to help you prepare.