An aggregator is a buyer's agent that joins customers together as a single purchasing unit and negotiates on their behalf for the purchase of electricity service in Texas. Generally an aggregator will be compensated by the REP, but may take payments from the customers in certain circumstances--either way the aggregator must inform the customer of its compensation method.

As of July 1, 2003, the prohibition against aggregators affiliating with REPs ceased to be effective. Now, Aggregators must disclose any affiliate relationships between themselves and REPs.

Who Should File: Any person, municipality, political subdivision corporation that aggregates or joins two or more customers together as a single purchasing unit and negotiates on their behalf for the purchase of electricity services must register with the PUC as an aggregator.

A single electricity customer including a municipality or political subdivision, negotiating service in multiple locations for its own use, does not need to register with the commission.

If an entity conducts activities only as advisor to a customer or set of customers, without contact with REPs specific to that customer or customer group then it is a consultant and does not need to register.

When to File: Before providing aggregation services to customers.