Bill Text: TX SB1500 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to promote energy conservation and efficiency.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [SB1500 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1500-Introduced.html
  84R12520 DDT-D
 
  By: Lucio S.B. No. 1500
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of
  certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to
  promote energy conservation and efficiency.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 44 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 44.  ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES
         Sec. 44.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Fund" means the historic structure energy
  assistance fund.
               (2)  "Historic structure" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 442.001, Government Code.
         Sec. 44.002.  APPLICABILITY.  This chapter applies only to a
  county that:
               (1)  has a population of 400,000 or more;
               (2)  is adjacent to an international border;
               (3)  borders the Gulf of Mexico; and
               (4)  is in an area where customer choice has not been
  adopted.
         Sec. 44.003.  HISTORIC STRUCTURE ENERGY ASSISTANCE.  (a)  
  The historic structure energy assistance fund is an account in the
  general revenue fund administered by the commission.  Money in the
  account may be appropriated only for the purposes of a program
  created under Subsection (c).  Interest earned on the fund shall be
  credited to the fund notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government
  Code.
         (b)  The commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring
  electric utilities, municipally owned utilities, and electric
  cooperatives to:
               (1)  establish a monthly surcharge in an amount of 50
  cents per customer to finance the fund; and
               (2)  remit the collected surcharges to the comptroller
  for deposit to the credit of the fund.
         (c)  The commission shall establish a grant or loan or other
  assistance program designed to:
               (1)  increase energy efficiency in historic
  structures;
               (2)  promote energy conservation in historic
  structures; and
               (3)  assist owners of historic structures with electric
  bill payments.
         (d)  The commission by rule shall establish application
  procedures and eligibility criteria for an owner of a historic
  structure in need of assistance with payment of electric bills or
  with energy conservation or energy efficiency measures.
         (e)  The commission may use money from the fund to pay the
  commission's costs associated with:
               (1)  establishing the program under Subsection (c),
  including costs of rulemaking; and
               (2)  administering the program and fund.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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