Bill Text: TX HB4118 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to service provided to residential customers by certain gas utilities during weather emergencies; authorizing a civil penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-03 - Left pending in committee [HB4118 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4118-Introduced.html
88R9142 ANG-D | ||
By: Turner | H.B. No. 4118 |
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relating to service provided to residential customers by certain | ||
gas utilities during weather emergencies; authorizing a civil | ||
penalty. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 104.259 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 104.259. PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SERVICE DURING EXTREME | ||
WEATHER EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "extreme weather | ||
emergency" has the meaning assigned by Section 104.258. | ||
(b) The regulatory authority shall require gas utilities, | ||
as defined by Sections 101.003 and 121.001, that serve residential | ||
customers to provide an adequate amount of pipeline pressure in | ||
distribution gas pipeline facilities that serve those customers | ||
during an extreme weather emergency. | ||
(c) If a gas utility violates Subsection (b) for at least | ||
six consecutive hours, the regulatory authority shall require the | ||
gas utility to provide to each affected residential customer a $100 | ||
rebate for each consecutive six-hour period in which the violation | ||
continued. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 105.023, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: | ||
(b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a civil penalty under | ||
this section shall be in the amount of $1 million for each violation | ||
of Section 104.259. A municipality may file a suit to recover the | ||
civil penalty if the gas utility or affiliate in violation of | ||
Section 104.259 is regulated by the municipality. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |