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AN ACT
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relating to notice of utility rate increases. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 104.103, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Instead of publishing newspaper notice, a gas utility |
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may provide notice [to the public in an area outside the affected
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municipality or in a municipality with a population of less than
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2,500] by: |
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(1) mailing the notice by United States mail, postage |
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prepaid, to the billing address of each directly affected customer; |
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[or] |
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(2) including the notice, in conspicuous form, in the |
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bill of each directly affected customer; or |
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(3) sending the notice by e-mail to each directly |
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affected customer if that address is available to the utility. |
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(c) A gas utility may provide a customer with notice of the |
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utility's intent to increase rates by e-mail as described by |
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Subsection (b)(3) only if the customer has consented in writing to |
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the use of the customer's e-mail address for that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a notice of a proposed utility rate increase provided on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. Notice provided before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed |
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 885 passed the Senate on |
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March 27, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 885 passed the House on |
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May 2, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present |
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not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |