Few state agencies impact oil and gas-rich West Texas as much as the Railroad Commission. Yet, most people in the region probably don’t know it, well, because of the name. It just doesn’t fit the job description of an agency that deals with energy issues.

That explains why state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, and Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, say it is time to say adios to the antiquated name and rename the agency the Texas Energy Commission. They have introduced identical bills, House Bill 499 and Senate Bill 341, which would allow the name change.

“Every time one of the three railroad commissioners makes a speech, and I’ve heard all three of them make speeches, they typically begin their speeches by explaining that even though they are called the Railroad Commission they have nothing with railroads,” Wentworth said. “It would be more sensible, it seems to me, more common sense to call it the Texas Energy Commission, which is something they do deal with every day.”

Wentworth, a Texas Tech Law School graduate who has served in the Legislature for 20 years, mainly in the Senate, does not anticipate much opposition to the proposed legislation and neither does the commission’s chairman.

“We are quite supportive of a bill that would change the name that would reflect what we do and I think it would reflect sort of what is important in Texas today in terms of looking at the wide expands of energy activities,” Railroad Commission chairman Michael Williams said.

Another possible change

However, the name change is not all that may be in store for the 118-year-old agency.

Rep. David Farabee, D-Wichita Falls, has introduced legislation that would reduce the number of commissioners to one.

“I think it’s important to be constantly in the lookout for cost-saving opportunities and this seems like a good way to make Texas government more efficient,” Farabee said of his House Bill 1231 and House Joint Resolution 62. “You cut the overhead with regard to commissioners to a third of what it currently costs, with the staffing three commissioners have.”

The Agriculture Department, the Land Commissioner’s Office and other state agencies have one single leader, why shouldn’t the Railroad Commission be the same way, he argued.

Although Farabee filed similar legislation in 2005 that was rejected by the Legislature, he thinks this session he has a better chance of passing it because it would save the state money now that the lawmakers have $9 billion less to work with than they did in the 2007 session.

Four years ago, “we weren’t in this particular budget situation and so I am more optimistic this time that I have been in the past,” he said.

Williams said he doesn’t see any problems with Farabee’s proposal either.

“I think that is a proposition well worthy of consideration, worthy of the Legislature looking at,” Williams said. “Moving three to one would not necessarily save a lot of dollars but there may be other advantages doing that, but it is something worthy of consideration and I am sure the Legislature will do just that.”

Why the name

In 1891, when the train was the fastest and most convenient way of transportation for people and for ferrying livestock, raw materials and manufactured goods, the Texas Legislature saw the need for a commission to regulate the railroad industry and created the agency.

The late 19th century lawmakers gave the commission jurisdiction over rates and operations of railroads, terminals, wharves and express companies, according to the agency’s Web site.

But over the years, as the automobile, big trucks and airplanes became the main source of transportation for people and for carrying livestock and goods, the commission’s duties gradually shifted to oil, gas and natural resources.

“We gradually took some of that responsibility (the railroad industry) away from them and left them just with safety of railroads, but then we took that away several years ago as well,” Wentworth explained. “By changing the name we give the public a more accurate representation of what it really is. I call this my truth-in-labeling bill.”

West Texas officials like Amarillo Mayor Debra McCartt have no problem with the proposed name change or making the commission a single-director agency.

“We’re facing an energy challenge right now in the entire country and the state and I don’t see any problem changing the name,” McCartt said.

But Rep. Delwin Jones, R-Lubbock, is not completely sold on the bills, particularly on Farabee’s proposal to have a single commissioner.

“It’s OK with me, the name change, it is not something that is going to keep me awake at nights,” said Jones, the dean of the South Plains/Panhandle delegation who has served in the Legislature for 28 years.

“It’s the single commissioner that I am against,” he said. “I don’t want to put too much power on just one person.”