Bill Text: TX HB1606 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2025-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/25 [HB1606 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1606-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 1606

AN ACT
relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the
procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission
or distribution line.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 17.003, Utilities Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (d-1) and adding Subsection (d-2) to read as
follows:
(d-1) An electric utility providing electric delivery
service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section
31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the
retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail
electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to
the customers, information about:
(1) the electric utility's procedures for implementing
involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
region;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation
management near a transmission or distribution line.
(d-2) A retail electric utility shall periodically provide
with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information
about the procedure for a customer to request vegetation management
near a transmission or distribution line.
SECTION 2. Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(f) A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide
with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information
about:
(1) the utility's procedure for implementing
involuntary load shedding;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation
management near a transmission or distribution line.
SECTION 3. Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(f) An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with
bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information
about:
(1) the cooperative's procedure for implementing
involuntary load shedding;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a customer to request vegetation
management near a transmission or distribution line.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1606 was passed by the House on April
25, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 127, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1606 was passed by the Senate on May
25, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor