Bill Text: TX HB775 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to using the system benefit fund for the support of certain programs for low-income electric customers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-11 - Left pending in subcommittee [HB775 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB775-Introduced.html
83R2307 JJT-D | ||
By: Guillen | H.B. No. 775 |
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relating to using the system benefit fund for the support of certain | ||
programs for low-income electric customers. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 39.903, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (e) and (f) and adding Subsection (e-1) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(e) Money in the system benefit fund may be appropriated to | ||
provide funding [ |
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(1) programs to: | ||
(A) assist low-income electric customers by | ||
providing the 10 percent reduced rate prescribed by Subsection (h); | ||
and | ||
(B) provide one-time bill payment assistance to | ||
electric customers who are or who have in their households one or | ||
more seriously ill or disabled low-income persons and who have been | ||
threatened with disconnection for nonpayment; | ||
(2) customer education programs, administrative | ||
expenses incurred by the commission in implementing and | ||
administering this chapter, and expenses incurred by the office | ||
under this chapter; | ||
(3) programs to assist low-income electric customers | ||
by providing the targeted energy efficiency programs described by | ||
Subsection (f)(2); | ||
(4) programs to assist low-income electric customers | ||
by providing the 20 percent reduced rate prescribed by Subsection | ||
(h); and | ||
(5) reimbursement to the commission and the Health and | ||
Human Services Commission for expenses incurred in the | ||
implementation and administration of an integrated eligibility | ||
process created under Section 17.007 for customer service discounts | ||
relating to retail electric service, including outreach expenses | ||
the commission determines are reasonable and necessary. | ||
(e-1) After deducting amounts allocated to pay for | ||
activities under Subsection (e)(2), the remaining appropriations | ||
to the commission from the system benefit fund must be allocated so | ||
that: | ||
(1) 75 percent is used for the purposes of Subsections | ||
(e)(1)(A) and (e)(4); | ||
(2) at least 20 percent is used for the purposes of | ||
Subsection (e)(3); and | ||
(3) not more than 5 percent is used for the purposes of | ||
Subsection (e)(1)(B). | ||
(f) Notwithstanding Section 39.106(b), the commission shall | ||
adopt rules regarding programs to assist low-income electric | ||
customers on the introduction of customer choice. The programs may | ||
not be targeted to areas served by municipally owned utilities or | ||
electric cooperatives that have not adopted customer choice. The | ||
programs shall include: | ||
(1) reduced electric rates as provided by Subsections | ||
(h)-(l); and | ||
(2) targeted [ |
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administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community | ||
Affairs in coordination with existing weatherization programs, | ||
including energy efficiency programs, insulation programs, home | ||
energy audit programs, modifications to home appliances or heating | ||
or cooling systems, and programs described by Section 2306.0975, | ||
Government Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 2306, Government Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 2306.0975 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 2306.0975. CREDIT-ENHANCED LOANS TO BENEFIT | ||
LOW-INCOME ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS. (a) The department shall establish | ||
one or more credit-enhanced loan programs to assist low-income | ||
electric customers in paying for energy efficiency projects or | ||
renewable energy projects designed to benefit those electric | ||
customers. The department shall fund the programs using money | ||
received by the department under Section 39.903(f)(2), Utilities | ||
Code, and other money appropriated for that purpose, including | ||
money appropriated under Subsection (d). | ||
(b) A credit-enhanced loan under a program may be directed | ||
for individual product installations or whole-building upgrades | ||
and may be given to a low-income electric customer, an owner of | ||
housing for low-income persons, a local government, a private | ||
developer, or a nonprofit or other entity that constructs or | ||
conducts major renovations of housing for low-income populations. | ||
(c) A program established under this section may take the | ||
form of: | ||
(1) a loan loss reserve set aside to offset potential | ||
losses as a result of repayment defaults; | ||
(2) a loan guarantee to cover a lender's potential | ||
losses on loans; | ||
(3) a debt service reserve set aside to offset | ||
potential delayed or defaulted loan payments; or | ||
(4) a reduced interest loan program. | ||
(d) The legislature may appropriate money to the department | ||
from the system benefit fund for the purposes of a program | ||
established under this section. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |