AAhh, air-condition-ing! Is there anything quite so sweet as a frigid Freon-fluffed breeze on an August day in Houston?

The participants at the prayer vigil organized by Gov. Rick Perry were treated to arctic blasts of the stuff Saturday, with Reliant Stadium's 12,000 tons of air-conditioning keeping temperatures nippy. But as historic temperatures scorch Texas for the third straight month with triple-digit misery, $650 million collected from Texas electricity consumers to assist poor elderly and disabled citizens with their utility bills sits idly in a state bank account.

Instead of serving its intended humanitarian purpose, the state's $650 million System Benefit Fund now serves a political one — permitting Perry and other Republican leaders to keep their "no new taxes" pledge.

In February, the Perry-appointed Public Utility Commission voted to reduce aid distributed from the fund, allowing its corpus to grow ever bigger. The fund, a big positive entry in the state comptroller's ledger of the state's fiscal condition, is now an essential tool in "balancing" the state's budget.

The SBF was the brainchild of Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, created when the Legislature deregulated electric utility companies in 1999. Turner, hoping to protect Texas' most vulnerable consumers, proposed tacking a small monthly fee onto everyone's utility bills to provide aid to the needy.

Over the years, the PUC has adopted rules limiting the number of citizens eligible for assistance, but about 500,000 Texans receive aid for their summer bills.

When lawmakers faced a budget crisis this year, the PUC reduced the percentage of assistance offered each consumer, from 17 percent of a monthly bill to 10 percent.

Money for the budget

More for you News Houston news Fee meant for poor is used to aid GOP cause...

Stiffing the old and disabled had the happy effect of freeing up a wad of cash that lawmakers could use to "balance" the state budget adopted in May.

But it also ignited a slow burn inside Turner, who called out his fellow lawmakers for what he considers their "deceit." I brought up the subject with him this week, and quickly discovered that the summer weather has done nothing to cool his temper.

"Essentially, it is stealing," Turner said. "The money is being taken from consumers for an intended purpose - to assist low- income and seniors for paying their utility bills. What Republicans have done is taken the money, diverted it and used it as an undercover tax in order to certify the budget bill."

To sum up: Turner, a liberal Democrat, passed legislation to help the needy. That legislation is helping Republicans honor their Grover Norquist-enforced "no new taxes" pledge.

GOP 'hypocrisy' slammed

Turner is not amused. "They are using low-income and senior citizens' money to maintain their pledge," he said. "I could keep that pledge if they allowed me to steal."

Having had his legacy hijacked, Turner tried this session - and the previous one - to reform the use of the fund. No dice. The Republican leadership, he says, is "addicted" to the fees collected from utility bills, a little less than $10 annually for the average residence. "It's hypocritical," he said.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is calling June and July "the warmest on record" for the city of Houston; also this summer, San Antonio has beaten the average for consecutive 100-plus degree days.

And charities and social service agencies are turning away hundreds of citizens seeking assistance with skyrocketing bills.

Less power to them

In its Gulf Coast region, the 211 Texas United Way Helpline has fielded some 50,000 requests for assistance with utility bills since January.

United Way workers try to find assistance, and urge callers to work out payment plans with utility companies. Many callers, they say, are seniors on fixed incomes slammed with unexpected bills.

Statistics indicate that there's a lot of unmet need: In June, some 123,440 Texans had their electricity disconnected for nonpayment of bills, up from 113,637 in June of 2010.

Alternate suggestion

Perry has called upon the state to pray for rain; no doubt the heat has prompted many to look to the heavens and invoke the Lord's name this summer.

Turner had an alternative suggestion for the Reliant prayer participants.

"They will be cool while people living in the shadow of Reliant will be hot, wondering whether or not they can pay their electricity bills," Turner said. "One of the prayers we need to offer is to be honest in our dealings with one another - especially to be sensitive to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves - and ask the Lord for the boldness and courage to act accordingly."

Amen.

patti.hart@chron.com