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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to communications with utility customers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 104.103, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 104.103 NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCREASE RATES. (a) The |
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gas utility shall: |
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(1) publish, in conspicuous form, notice to the public |
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of the proposed increase once each week for four successive weeks in |
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a newspaper having general circulation in each county containing |
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territory affected by the proposed increase; and |
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(2) provide notice of the proposed increase to any |
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other affected person as required by the regulatory authority's |
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rules. |
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(b) Instead of publishing newspaper notice, a gas utility |
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may provide notice to the public in an area outside the affected |
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municipality or in a municipality with a population of less than |
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2,500 by: |
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(1) mailing the notice by United States mail, postage |
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prepaid, to the billing address of each directly affected customer; |
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or |
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(2) including the notice, in conspicuous form, in the |
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bill of each directly affected customer, or |
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(3) at the customer's request sending the notice by |
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electronic communication to each directly affected customer who has |
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provided the utility with the necessary contact information. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |