Bill Text: TX SB1443 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to restoring electric service to certain vulnerable customers after a power outage and customer communication.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-31 - Co-author authorized [SB1443 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1443-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Campbell S.B. No. 1443
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to restoring electric service to certain vulnerable
  customers after a power outage and customer communication.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 38.0725 to read as follows:
         Sec. 38.0725.  PRIORITIES FOR POWER RESTORATION TO
  VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNICATION TO CUSTOMERS. (a) In this
  section, "vulnerable customer" means a customer:
               (1)  who qualifies for critical care or chronic
  condition status as defined by the commission;
               (2)  who is dependent upon an electric-powered medical
  device to sustain life;
               (3)  that has a serious medical condition that requires
  an electric-powered medical device or electric heating or cooling
  to prevent impairment of a major life function through a
  significant deterioration or exacerbation of the person's medical
  condition;
               (4)  who is the parent, guardian, or managing
  conservator of a child who qualifies for critical care or chronic
  condition status as defined by the commission;
               (5)  who is the parent, guardian, or managing
  conservator of a child who is dependent upon an electric-powered
  medical device to sustain life; or
               (6)  who is the parent, guardian or managing
  conservator of a child that has a serious medical condition that
  requires an electric-powered medical device or electric heating or
  cooling to prevent impairment of a major life function through a
  significant deterioration or exacerbation of the person's medical
  condition.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require each retail
  electric provider and electric cooperative that sells electricity
  to a customer to implement a registration process by which a new
  customer of that retail electric provider or electric cooperative
  may report to that retail electric provider or electric cooperative
  that the customer is a vulnerable customer.
         (c)  A retail electric provider or electric cooperative that
  sells electricity to a customer shall maintain customer information
  reported under this section to allow that retail electric provider
  or electric cooperative to quickly identify vulnerable customers
  during a power outage and notify the relevant transmission and
  distribution utilities to prioritize those customers for power
  restoration.
         (d)  The commission by rule shall require each retail
  electric provider and electric cooperative that sells electricity
  to a customer that chooses to implement a mass alert system to
  communicate to individual customers of potential emergency
  situations and power outages shall notify each of their customers
  of the existence of such mass alert system when:
               (1)  the customer initially signs up to become a
  customer of the retail electric provider or electric cooperative;
  and
               (2)  each time the retail electric provider or electric
  cooperative bills the customer.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall adopt the
  rules required by Section 38.0725, Utilities Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
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