|
House Bill 1600 |
House Author: Cook et al. |
|
Effective: 9-1-13 |
Senate Sponsor: Nichols |
House Bill 1600 establishes provisions relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), to the transfer of certain functions from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to the PUC, to the rates for water service, and to the functions of the Office of Public Utility Counsel.
Article 1 of the bill amends the Public Utility Regulatory Act in the Utilities Code to continue the PUC to September 1, 2023, revise PUC commissioner qualifications, and authorize the PUC to issue cease and desist orders. Among other provisions, the bill provides for additional PUC oversight of certified independent organizations and certain telecommunications utilities and requires the PUC to authorize an organization to charge to wholesale buyers and sellers a system administration fee.
Article 2 of the bill transfers on September 1, 2014, from TCEQ to the PUC the powers, duties, functions, programs, and activities of TCEQ relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service, including the issuance and transfer of certificates of convenience and necessity, the determination of rates, and the administration of hearings and proceedings involving those matters. The bill sets out procedural provisions and reporting requirements relating to such transfers and makes a number of conforming and related changes to the Water Code, Local Government Code, and Special District Local Laws Code.
Article 2 of the bill grants the PUC authority to regulate and supervise the business of each water and sewer utility within its jurisdiction, including ratemaking and other economic regulation, and clarifies that TCEQ retains the authority to regulate water and sewer utilities within its jurisdiction to ensure safe drinking water and environmental protection. The bill authorizes the PUC to delegate to an administrative law judge of the State Office of Administrative Hearings the responsibility and authority to issue interlocutory orders related to interim water rates. The bill establishes that the independent Office of Public Utility Counsel represents the interests of residential and small commercial consumers regarding water rates and services and sets out the office's powers and duties in representing those consumers.
Article 2 of the bill classifies public utilities that provide retail water or sewer utility service as Class A, Class B, or Class C utilities according to the number of taps or connections through which a utility provides service and revises the rate change procedures for utilities based on those classifications.