SRC-AAA S.B. 254 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 254 By: Barrientos Economic Development 3-5-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, certain utility customers in Texas have discovered that they have been overcharged by a utility and have requested that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) require the utility to pay them a refund for the amount that the customers were overcharged. This bill requires a refund adjustment to be made for the entire period a customer was overcharged. The PUC is now questioning whether an agency rule requiring full refunds is necessary. If this rule is changed, future customers who are owned a refund may only get a portion or none of the refund that they deserve. S.B. 254 requires a refund adjustment to be made for the entire period a customer was overcharged. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 254 requires a refund adjustment to be made for the entire period a customer was overcharged. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1.01. Amends Public Utility Regulatory Act of 1995, by adding Section 1.409, as follows: Sec 1.409. REFUNDS. Requires an adjustment to be made for the entire period that a customer was overcharged, if the customer is due a refund. SECTION 2.02. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.