AUSTIN, Texas — The Railroad Commission of Texas is the state’s oldest regulatory agency. The commission regulates the state’s oil and gas industry, not railroads. It’s a three-person agency and one seat is up for grabs in the upcoming election. 

Three candidates trying to unseat Texas Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick: Democratic candidate Katherine Culbert, Libertarian candidate Hawk Dunlap and Green Party candidate Eddie Espinoza. 

Energy experts say the public often overlooks the commission's large role in the state. 

During the February 2021 winter storm, natural gas prices were hiked up as consumers used more, which resulted in an extra fee. 

“The Railroad Commission took about 90 seconds to approve more than $3 billion in securitizations, overcharges that each of us is paying for the next, you know, 20 to 30 years,” said Ed Hirs, an University of Houston energy fellow. 

As the incumbent, Republican and current chair of the commission, Craddick believes fewer federal regulations will help the industry flourish. 

“Industry moves faster than a regulatory body a lot of times,” she said. 

The commission has faced criticism during Craddick’s tenure over the handling of wastewater, a byproduct of fracking.

Once a well is drained of oil, the pipes are supposed to be plugged, but pipes are often exploding in West Texas due to underground water pressure or leaking toxic water.

“We’re working with the Legislature and TCEQ and industry, researching what standards should be and how we get industry as well as the whole state to start using some of this water for beneficial reuse, which I would say one, one example is putting it on crops,” said Craddick. 

Craddick’s opponents believe the Railroad Commission isn’t doing enough to prevent the explosions.  

“The Railroad Commission is responsible for overseeing, plugging and plugging in abandonment activities from the industry,” said Culbert. 

Culbert is a regulator in the industry and wants the commission to do more to protect Texans and the state’s natural resources. 

“They’re allowing the oil and gas companies to basically do whatever they want. And the feds are the only ones that are putting in place and enforcing rules against the oil and gas companies,” said Culbert. 

The Railroad Commission race is one of the few statewide contests with minor party candidates 

Espinoza wants to prevent other parts of Texas from experiencing the same environmental issues fracking has caused in West Texas. 

“Out there in the Permian Basin, they used to grow cantaloupe and tomatoes and cotton. Now there’s no life out there,” he said. 

Dunlop, in a written statement, told Spectrum News 1 that it's important that commissioners not be compromised by personal interests. 

“My priority is bringing actual industry experience to the agency that is supposed to be regulating technical operations. I am 4th generation oilfield - it has provided a good life for me and my family. But we have to do it the right way. Commissioners should not be permitted to have personal financial interests in the companies - there is a clear conflict of interest," Dunlop wrote. "I'm not accepting campaign donations because I do not want to have any appearance of owing anyone favors. We should encourage legislators to change the name to reflect what they do. From a technical perspective - we have to reduce our injection of produced water. And fully bond decommissioning so taxpayers are not left footing the bill.”

If Craddick loses her bid for reelection, the new member will be a minority on the commission, joining two Republicans not yet up for reelection. 

“I don’t take a political position, but, for the Railroad Commission to change the way it’s operating, it’s going to have to have different leadership than it does now,” said Hirs.

Early voting in Texas starts Oct. 21.