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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grace period from the statement issue date for payment |
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of services to certain electric utilities and related entities. |
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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 17.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 17.011. PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF ELECTRIC SERVICES. (a) |
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A provider of electric service to a retail customer, including an |
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electric utility, a retail electric provider, an electric |
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cooperative, or a municipally owned electric utility, may not |
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disconnect service or pursue any other collections options for |
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nonpayment of a balance due before the 30th day after the date on |
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which the statement is issued. |
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(b) To the extent of any conflict between this section and |
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other law, including Subchapter A, Chapter 182, this section |
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controls. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not |
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affect the rights of a provider of electric utility services to |
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disconnect service or pursue another collections option in a manner |
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provided by a contract with a retail customer that was entered into |
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or renewed before the effective date of this Act. The rights of a |
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provider under a contract for electric utility services entered |
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into or renewed before the effective date of this Act are governed |
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by the law as it existed on the date the contract was entered into or |
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renewed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |