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House Bill 3273 |
House Author: Crownover |
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Effective: 9-1-07 |
Senate Sponsor: Averitt |
House Bill 3273 amends the Natural Resources Code to authorize the Railroad Commission of Texas to impose an administrative penalty against a purchaser, transporter, gatherer, shipper, or seller of natural gas, or any other entity under the commission's jurisdiction who has violated a commission rule relating to unlawful discrimination or who has unreasonably discriminated against a seller of natural gas in the purchase of natural gas from the seller. The bill also authorizes the commission to impose an administrative penalty against a purchaser, transporter, or gatherer of natural gas if the commission determines that the person engaged in prohibited discrimination against a seller or shipper based on the filing of a complaint with the commission regarding the purchase, transportation, or gathering of gas. The bill allows the commission to provide for the appointment of commission staff as mediators for informal complaints while also allowing the parties to hire an independent mediator, and it allows the commission to use a cost-of-service method or a market-based rate method in setting a rate in a formal rate proceeding.