Political contributions link ERCOT board to Abbott and the state committee now investigating the troubled entity
AdWalker, the chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas and a former senior policy advisor to Abbott, contributed $7,620 to Texans for Greg Abbott from 2009 to 2015, state campaign records show. Oliver told KSAT that he was also unaware of any recent criticism levied toward ERCOT by Abbott. Texas Ethics Commission records, however, show that three of the 13 representatives on the House Committee on State Affairs have accepted contributions from ERCOT board member Clifton Karnei. Rep. Chris Paddie, chair of the state affairs committee, also did not respond to calls and an email seeking comment. Other ERCOT board members are listed in TEC records as having contributed to several energy-related PACs.