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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to energy efficiency audits and improvement loans for |
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customers of electric utilities and transmission and distribution |
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utilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.9055 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.9055. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDITS AND IMPROVEMENT |
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LOANS. (a) On the request of a customer and at no cost to the |
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customer, an electric utility or transmission and distribution |
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utility shall perform an energy efficiency audit of the customer's |
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premises. |
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(b) An electric utility or transmission and distribution |
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utility shall offer a customer who participates in an energy audit |
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under Subsection (a) a low-interest loan to pay the costs of |
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installing approved energy efficiency improvements to the |
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customer's premises. A customer who receives a loan under this |
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subsection shall repay the loan by a surcharge on the customer's |
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monthly electricity bill. If a customer sells, ceases to rent, or |
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otherwise permanently abandons the premises for which a loan is |
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granted, the customer shall immediately repay the entire balance of |
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the loan. |
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(c) Each electric utility and transmission and distribution |
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utility shall market the availability of energy efficiency audits |
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and upgrade loans under this section to customers of the utility |
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through retail electric providers. |
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(d) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |