Bill Text: TX SB815 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 815 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the disconnection of electric or gas utility service.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-05 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB815 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB815-Introduced.html

	83R4771 RWG-F

	By: Davis	S.B. No. 815



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the disconnection of electric or gas utility service.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is amended by adding
	Subchapter E to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER E. PROTECTION AGAINST UTILITY SERVICE DISCONNECTION
	Sec. 17.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1) "Customer" means a person who receives electricity
	or gas service from a utility, including a landlord, premises
	owner, and property manager.
	(2) "Electric service provider" includes:
	(A) an electric utility, as defined by Section
	31.002;
	(B) a retail electric provider;
	(C) an electric cooperative; and
	(D) a municipally owned utility.
	(3) "Gas utility" has the meaning assigned by Section
	181.021.
	(4) "Nonsubmetered master metered property" means an
	apartment, a leased or owner-occupied condominium, or one or more
	buildings containing at least 10 dwellings that receive electric
	utility service or gas utility service that is master metered but
	not submetered.
	Sec. 17.202. NOTICE OF DISCONNECTION TO NONSUBMETERED
	MASTER METERED MULTIFAMILY PROPERTY CUSTOMERS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND
	TENANTS. (a) An electric service provider or a gas utility may not
	disconnect service to a nonsubmetered master metered property for
	nonpayment for services unless the electric service provider or gas
	utility sends a written notice of service disconnection to a
	customer and, if the property is located in a municipality, to the
	governing body of that municipality not later than the 30th day
	before the date the electric service provider or gas utility, as
	applicable, disconnects the electric or gas service.
	(b) A customer shall provide written notice of a service
	disconnection to each tenant or owner at a nonsubmetered master
	metered property not later than the fifth day after the date the
	customer receives a notice of service disconnection from an
	electric service provider or gas utility. A customer must provide
	the notice by mail to the tenant or owner's preferred mailing
	address. The written notice must state the service to be
	disconnected, the date and reason for the disconnection, the
	customer's contact information, and the tenant's remedies under
	Section 92.301, Property Code.
	(c) If the property is located in a municipality, the
	customer shall provide the notice described by Subsection (b) to
	the governing body of that municipality by certified mail. The
	notice must include the following text:
	"Notice to residents of [name and address of nonsubmetered
	master metered property]: Electric service to this property is
	scheduled for disconnection on [date] because [reason for
	disconnection]."
	The governing body of the municipality may provide additional
	notice to the property's tenants and owners after receipt of the
	service disconnection notice under Subsection (b).
	Sec. 17.203. ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS. (a) The customer
	safeguards provided by this subchapter are in addition to
	safeguards provided by other law or commission rules.
	(b) This subchapter does not prohibit a municipality, an
	electric cooperative, or the commission from adopting customer
	safeguards that exceed the safeguards provided by this chapter.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	in regard to disconnection of service for nonpayment of a utility
	bill issued for a billing period that begins on or after the
	effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.