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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to service provided to residential customers by certain |
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gas utilities during weather emergencies; authorizing a civil |
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penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 104.259 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.259. PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SERVICE DURING EXTREME |
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WEATHER EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "extreme weather |
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emergency" has the meaning assigned by Section 104.258. |
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(b) The regulatory authority shall require gas utilities, |
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as defined by Sections 101.003 and 121.001, that serve residential |
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customers to provide an adequate amount of pipeline pressure in |
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distribution gas pipeline facilities that serve those customers |
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during an extreme weather emergency. |
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(c) If a gas utility violates Subsection (b) for at least |
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six consecutive hours, the regulatory authority shall require the |
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gas utility to provide to each affected residential customer a $100 |
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rebate for each consecutive six-hour period in which the violation |
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continued. |
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SECTION 2. Section 105.023, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a civil penalty under |
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this section shall be in the amount of $1 million for each violation |
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of Section 104.259. A municipality may file a suit to recover the |
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civil penalty if the gas utility or affiliate in violation of |
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Section 104.259 is regulated by the municipality. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |