81R11064 TJS-D
 
  By: Weber H.B. No. 4011
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the use of money in the system benefit fund to purchase
  advanced meters for low-income customers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.903(e), Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  Money in the system benefit fund may be appropriated to
  provide funding solely for the following regulatory purposes, in
  the following order of priority:
               (1)  programs to:
                     (A)  assist low-income electric customers by
  providing the 10 percent reduced rate prescribed by Subsection (h);
  and
                     (B)  provide one-time bill payment assistance to
  electric customers who are or who have in their households one or
  more seriously ill or disabled low-income persons and who have been
  threatened with disconnection for nonpayment;
               (2)  customer education programs, administrative
  expenses incurred by the commission in implementing and
  administering this chapter, and expenses incurred by the office
  under this chapter;
               (3)  programs to assist low-income electric customers
  by providing the targeted energy efficiency programs described by
  Subsection (f)(2), including programs to provide low-income
  electric customers with advanced meters;
               (4)  programs to assist low-income electric customers
  by providing the 20 percent reduced rate prescribed by Subsection
  (h); and
               (5)  reimbursement to the commission and the Health and
  Human Services Commission for expenses incurred in the
  implementation and administration of an integrated eligibility
  process created under Section 17.007 for customer service discounts
  relating to retail electric service, including outreach expenses
  the commission determines are reasonable and necessary.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.