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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of estimated customer bills by electric |
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utilities and retail electric providers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 17.010. ESTIMATED BILLS. (a) An electric utility or |
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retail electric provider may, for good cause, issue a bill to a |
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customer that is based on an estimate of the amount of electricity |
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used. The bill must include: |
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(1) the word "Estimated" prominently displayed; and |
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(2) notice that the customer may request a meter |
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reading and defer payment until the reading is taken. |
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(b) An electric utility or retail electric provider that |
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receives a customer request to read the meter and defer payment |
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under Subsection (a) may not disconnect electric utility service |
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for nonpayment until a reasonable time after the meter is read and |
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the customer receives a bill based on an actual meter reading. This |
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section does not apply if the electric utility or retail electric |
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provider cannot gain access to the premises to read the meter |
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because of an action or a failure to take an action by the customer. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |