About 1 million Texans over the age of 45 who receive health insurance coverage through the federal Affordable Care Act will likely face monthly premiums of more than $1,000, the Austin American-Statesman reported. That accounts for one-fourth of the state’s 4 million ACA enrollees. The Republican-led Congress has thus far refused to extend pandemic-era subsidies that reduced ACA premiums, a factor in the recent government shutdown. Part of the deal to reopen the government includes a promise to hold a vote on the issue in December, but it appears unlikely to pass. Texas insurers have raised ACA premiums by an average of 35%, but the hikes have been even higher for older enrollees. “So price impacts tend to hit older folks the hardest,” said Laura Dague, who is the James M. Griffin professor of health policy at Texas A&M University. That is because insurance companies consider them higher risk, she added. Abbott demands action on Mexico’s violation of water treaty Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have demanded Mexico address its failure to meet the minimum requirements to deliver water to the United States under a 1944 water treaty. “Mexico must be held accountable for (its) continued breaches of our long-standing water agreement,” Abbott said. “Because of their pattern of neglect, Texas farmers are enduring preventable hardship and an erosion of the agricultural viability of the Rio Grande Valley.” Abbott said Mexico has failed to supply more than two years’ worth of water — almost 2 million acre-feet. He said that has had a severe negative impact on the state’s agricultural industry. “Economic losses from delayed water deliveries cannot be recovered,” said TCEQ Commissioner Tonya Miller. “Texas communities across the lower Rio Grande Valley will continue to suffer unless Mexico starts meeting their treaty obligations.” Under the treaty, the United States has consistently met its delivery obligations on the Colorado River, while Mexico has significantly breached its commitments on the Rio Grande River, Abbott said. The state’s two U.S. senators, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, have proposed a bill that would hold Mexico accountable for failing to provide water to South Texas under the 1944 treaty. Final rules on state’s voucher program are released The comptroller’s office has finalized rules for the state’s $1 billion school voucher program, the Houston Chronicle reported. Applications for families are scheduled to open in February. Among the features: • Families seeking pre-kindergarten services will be able to access accounts worth $10,500, which can be spent at private pre-K schools or childcare centers that have pre-K classes. • A clarification in the rules means that private schools or charter school networks already established in other states can open new campuses in Texas. The law says private schools must have been accredited for at least two years. The new rules mean this includes operating a campus in another state. • The application window opens on Feb. 4 and will last around six weeks. • Students approved for vouchers will not need to reapply in the following years. Power plant loan program making progress After a rocky start, a state plan to boost the construction of natural gas plants has begun loaning money two years after the $7 billion Texas Energy Fund was created, The Dallas Morning News reported. That comes after one of the original loan applicants chosen for the program possibly committed fraud in their application and was selected despite the company’s head having been convicted of a federal crime. Other companies pulled their applications, citing supply chain issues in procuring the large turbines needed to produce electricity. However, since June, the Public Utility Commission of Texas has approved about $1.5 billion in loans for six power plant projects. When completed, they will have the capacity to power at least 875,000 homes. The Legislature created the Texas Energy Fund after the February 2021 blackouts killed more than 200 people. The fund was created to build power plants that can produce electricity on demand. One of the companies receiving a loan is Houston-based Calpine. “This 460-megawatt, state-of-the-art facility is designed to start within minutes and will deliver safe, reliable power exactly when Texans need it most,” Caleb Stephenson of Calpine said in a news release. $1.2 billion headed to Texas broadband access Federal funding included in the 2021 infrastructure law passed during the Biden administration has been slow to reach states, The News reported. But the Trump administration announced recently that it has approved a plan to spend more than $1.2 billion in federal funds to improve broadband access in Texas, delivering high-speed internet to rural areas. That amount is considerably less than the $3.3 billion allocated to Texas under the original infrastructure law passed in 2021. Texas is the 19th state to win approval of a final plan. Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the approved plan will make it possible for nearly every Texas location to connect to high-speed internet. “The Texas broadband plan reflects our state’s commitment to responsible stewardship and to creating an environment where families, students and businesses can continue to thrive for generations to come,” Hancock said. PUC provides money-saving tips as winter nears The Public Utility Commission of Texas has launched a new website, Ways to Save, to help Texans conserve energy and save money during frigid weather. “Small changes at your home or business can make a big impact on your electric and water bills,” PUCT Executive Director Connie Corona said. “It’s important to prepare ahead of the cold winter months, especially ensuring you are enrolled in the electricity plan that is right for your home and family.” The page includes tips on how consumers can prepare their home or business for cold weather and reduce energy and water use to save money on utility bills. Tips range from small lifestyle changes to physical updates consumers can make to prepare their homes for winter. You can find the site at: puc.texas.gov/waystosave.