|
|
|
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. |