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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement that electric utilities offer a |
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standard retail service package on a standard form with standard |
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terms to a customer. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A customer is entitled: |
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(1) to be informed about rights and opportunities in |
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the transition to a competitive electric industry; |
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(2) to choose the customer's retail electric provider |
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consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to |
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assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed |
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without the customer's informed consent; |
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(3) to have access to providers of energy efficiency |
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services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of |
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energy generated by renewable energy resources; |
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(4) to be served by a provider of last resort that |
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offers a commission-approved standard service package; |
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(5) to receive sufficient information to make an |
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informed choice of service provider; |
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(6) to be protected from unfair, misleading, or |
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deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for |
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services that were not authorized or provided; [and] |
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(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of |
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disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission |
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and distribution utility; and |
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(8) to receive at least one written standard retail |
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service package offer, or a description of such an offer, from a |
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retail electric provider, on a commission-approved standard form |
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with a standard font size, typeface, and page limit, that: |
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(A) offers service for at least 12 months; |
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(B) charges a fixed price per kilowatt hour |
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throughout the term of the offered service period; and |
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(C) does not include a fee that the commission |
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does not require the retail electric provider to charge. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |