Contracting with an electric wholesaler is precisely what free-marketers do to try and save a buck and cut out that meddlesome utility middleman. You're giving

Contracting with an electric wholesaler is precisely what free-marketers do to try and save a buck and cut out that meddlesome utility middleman. You're giving up the stability of a pooled service in favor of shaving a bit off the price - this normally works in your favor except when it doesn't, and in this case it really doesn't. I wouldn't say I'm critical of those people, I'm critical of the extremist laissez faire policies in Texas that led to this disaster in general and electricity wholesalers in particular. I am, however, critical of folks who would bemoan medicaid and disaster relief funds until it hits them - in this particular case I don't know enough about the individuals to judge - but asking for 1 billion in damages is pretty extreme if they lost 9k and were one of just 29k customers.