Amend CSSB 482 by adding the following SECTION to the bill, 
appropriately numbered, and renumbering the subsequent SECTIONS of 
the bill accordingly:
	SECTION ____. (a) Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, 
is amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows:
	Sec. 17.010.  PAYMENT FOR SERVICES.  (a)  In this section, 
"retail provider" means a public or private provider of retail 
electric services.  The term includes:
		(1)  a public utility;                                                 
		(2)  a cooperative corporation;                                        
		(3)  a municipally owned utility; and                                  
		(4)  a retail electric provider.                                       
	(b)  A payment for retail electric services that is mailed to 
the retail provider using the United States Postal Service is 
considered made on the date the envelope or cover is postmarked by 
the postal service only if:
		(1)  the payment is not required by law or contract to 
be delivered by a method other than by mail;
		(2)  the payment has been deposited in the United 
States mail, with sufficient postage prepaid; and
		(3)  the envelope or cover has been properly addressed 
to the retail provider.
	(c)  A payment that does not conform to Subsection (b) is 
considered made on the date the payment is delivered to the retail 
provider.
	(b)  The change in law made by this section applies only to a 
payment due on or after the effective date of this Act.  A payment 
due before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in 
effect on the date the payment is due, and the former law is 
continued in effect for that purpose.
	(c)  Section 17.010, Utilities Code, as added by this 
section, does not apply to the date a payment for retail electric 
services is considered made to the extent its application may 
impair a contract entered into before the effective date of this Act 
that specifies the date a payment for retail electric services is 
considered made, and the law at the time the contract was entered 
into is continued in effect for that purpose.