By Corte                                              H.B. No. 2983
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to adoption of rules for disclosure of proposed new
 1-3     transmission or distribution routes by a utility.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 17.003, Utilities Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 17.003.  Customer Awareness.  (a)  The commission shall
 1-8     promote public awareness of changes in the electric and
 1-9     telecommunications markets, provide customers with information
1-10     necessary to make informed choices about available options, and
1-11     ensure that customers have an adequate understanding of their
1-12     rights.
1-13           (b)  The commission shall compile a report on customer
1-14     service at least once each year showing the comparative customer
1-15     information from reports given to the commission it deems
1-16     necessary.
1-17           (c)  The commission shall adopt and enforce rules to require
1-18     a certificated telecommunications utility, a retail electric
1-19     provider, or an electric utility to give clear, uniform, and
1-20     understandable information to customers about rates, terms,
1-21     services, customer rights, and other necessary information as
1-22     determined by the commission.
1-23           (d)  Customer awareness efforts by the commission shall be
 2-1     conducted in English and Spanish and any other language as
 2-2     necessary.
 2-3           (e)  The commission shall adopt and enforce a rule to require
 2-4     that a utility disclose the route of a proposed new transmission or
 2-5     distribution line to all property owners within 1/2 mile of the
 2-6     proposed new transmission or distribution line.  The rule must
 2-7     require that this disclosure be made a permanent part of the deed
 2-8     records associated with the property both underlying the route and
 2-9     property within 1/2 mile of the new route.
2-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.