SCOTX Tosses $416K Verdict Against Oncor

AUSTIN – Citing Chaparral Energy’s failure to first lodge a claim with state regulators, the Texas Supreme Court on Friday tossed out a $416,000 jury verdict against Oncor Electric for delays in providing electricity to a Chaparral well site.

The ruling reverses a 2016 decision from El Paso’s Eighth Court of Appeals denying Oncor’s challenge on the jurisdictional issue. The Supreme Court said the state Public Utility Commission has exclusive authority to make preliminary determinations on Chaparral’s claims. Depending on those determinations, Chaparral might later be able to re-file its lawsuit in district court.