81R2624 TRH-D
 
  By: Martinez H.B. No. 841
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to utility bill payment protection for elderly or disabled
  persons, or persons with special medical needs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.101, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (i), (j), and (k) to read as follows:
         (i)  A retail electric provider, power generation company,
  aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service
  may not, because of a late payment or failure to make a payment,
  disconnect service to a residential customer who:
               (1)  requests and qualifies for a deferred payment
  plan; and
               (2)  is:
                     (A)  at least 62 years of age;
                     (B)  a person or resides with a person who, if
  electric service is disconnected, is likely to become seriously ill
  or become more seriously ill; or
                     (C)  unable to engage in any substantial gainful
  activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental
  disability.
         (j)  If a residential customer's electric account is past
  due, the retail electric provider, power generation company,
  aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service
  to the customer shall give the customer notice that the account is
  past due.  The notice must be in conspicuous print on the first page
  of the disconnection notice or of the residential customer's first
  electric bill after the account becomes past due, whichever is sent
  earlier.  The notice must also inform the customer that the customer
  may qualify for a deferred payment plan and describe the manner in
  which the customer may request the plan.
         (k)  A retail electric provider, power generation company,
  aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service
  shall provide to a residential customer described by Subsection (i)
  who receives notice of a past due account and who can demonstrate
  financial inability to pay the amount due promptly, the opportunity
  to request a deferred payment plan.  The commission by rule shall
  establish requirements for criteria for a customer to qualify for a
  deferred payment plan required under this subsection.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.