Bill Text: TX SB1945 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Relating to electricity service provided by municipally owned utilities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-22 - Not again placed on intent calendar [SB1945 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1945-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Fraser  S.B. No. 1945
         (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 2015; March 25, 2015, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and
  Economic Development; April 16, 2015, reported adversely, with
  favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7,
  Nays 3; April 16, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1945 By:  Fraser
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to electricity service provided by municipally owned
  utilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 33, Utilities Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F.  REVIEW OF RATES OF CERTAIN MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
         Sec. 33.151.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
  to a municipally owned utility: 
               (1)  that serves at least 400,000 customers; and
               (2)  whose service area is located in the ERCOT power
  region in a municipality with a population of less than 1.3 million.
         Sec. 33.152.  REVIEW OF RATES; CUSTOMER CHOICE.  
  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, a retail customer or group of
  customers with a total usage of more than 25 million kilowatt hours
  per year may file a petition for commission review of current or
  proposed rates of a municipally owned utility that apply to the
  petitioning customers.
         (b)  Not later than the 90th day after the date a petition is
  filed with the commission, the municipally owned utility that is
  the subject of the petition shall file a rate application with the
  commission that complies in all material respects with the rules
  and forms prescribed by the commission.  The commission for good
  cause may extend the deadline for filing the rate application.
         (c)  The commission shall conduct a full review of the rates
  that apply to the petitioning customers to determine whether the
  rates are: 
               (1)  just and reasonable under Chapter 36; and
               (2)  consistent with rates available to similarly
  situated customers in areas of the state that have access to
  customer choice.
         (d)  If the commission finds that the rates are not just and
  reasonable or are not consistent with the rates available to
  similarly situated customers in areas of the state that have access
  to customer choice, the commission shall:
               (1)  set rates for the petitioning customer or
  customers that are just, reasonable, and consistent with the rates
  available to similarly situated customers in areas of the state
  that have access to customer choice; or
               (2)  set cost-based transmission and distribution
  rates for the municipally owned utility and allow a petitioning
  customer or customers to purchase electricity through a retail
  electric provider.
         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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