By Ellis                                              S.B. No. 1243
         76R8403 DWS-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to deferred billing for summer electricity use.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 38.005 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 38.005.  DEFERRED BILLING FOR SUMMER USE. Each electric
 1-7     utility shall offer to its residential customers, at no additional
 1-8     charge, the  option of deferring payment of electric bills during
 1-9     the months of June, July, August, and September.  The utility shall
1-10     collect any deferred amount through a levelized charge over the
1-11     following eight months.
1-12           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-18     passage, and it is so enacted.