79R7593 MTB-D

By:  Leibowitz                                                    H.B. No. 2445



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to service by water and sewer utilities.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 13.137(a), Water Code, is amended to 
read as follows:    
	(a)  Every utility shall:                                                      
		(1)  make available and notify its customers of a 
business location where its customers may make payments to prevent 
disconnection of or to restore service, at a minimum, during the 
hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding national 
and state holidays:
			(A)  in each county in which the utility provides 
service; or              
			(B)  not more than 20 miles from the residence of 
any residential customer if there is no location to receive 
payments in the county; and
		(2)  have an office in a county of this state or in the 
immediate area in which its property or some part of its property is 
located in which it shall keep all books, accounts, records, and 
memoranda required by the commission to be kept in this state.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended 
by adding Section 13.146 to read as follows:
	Sec. 13.146.  DISCONNECTION OF SERVICE.  (a)  A utility may 
not disconnect service of a customer for late payment before the 
31st day after the date the utility notifies the customer of the 
overdue payment.
	(b)  After a disconnection caused by the customer's late 
payment, a utility may not charge a customer a fee for restoring or 
reinstalling service that exceeds $25 or twice the amount of the 
late payment owed, whichever is less.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.