1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to disconnection of natural gas service.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 104.258 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 104.258.  DISCONNECTION OF GAS SERVICE. (a)  In this
 1-7     section:
 1-8                 (1)  "Extreme weather emergency" means a period during
 1-9     which the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32
1-10     degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to remain at or
1-11     below that level for the next 24 hours according to the nearest
1-12     National Weather Service reports.
1-13                 (2)  "Provider" means:
1-14                       (A)  a gas utility, as defined by Sections
1-15     101.003 and 121.001; and
1-16                       (B)  an owner, operator, or manager of a mobile
1-17     home park or apartment who purchases natural gas through a master
1-18     meter for delivery to a dwelling unit in a mobile home park or
1-19     apartment house under Chapter 124.
1-20           (b)  A provider may not disconnect natural gas service to a
1-21     residential customer on a weekend day unless personnel of the
1-22     provider are available on that day to take payments and reconnect
1-23     service.
1-24           (c)  A provider may not disconnect natural gas service to a
 2-1     residential customer during an extreme weather emergency.  The
 2-2     provider shall defer collection of the full payment of bills that
 2-3     are due during an extreme weather emergency until after the
 2-4     emergency is over and shall work with customers to establish a pay
 2-5     schedule for deferred bills.
 2-6           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-7     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-8     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-9     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-10     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2806 was passed by the House on
         May 10, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2806 was passed by the Senate on
         May 22, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present,
         not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor