|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the authority of an electric customer to choose not to |
|
have a utility's advanced meter. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 39.107, Utilities Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subsections (k), (l), and (m) to read as follows: |
|
(k) An electric utility or transmission and distribution |
|
utility that receives from the commission approval of the utility's |
|
plan for deploying advanced meters shall send by mail to each |
|
customer scheduled to receive an advanced meter under the plan a |
|
notice to inform the customer that the customer may decline to have |
|
the advanced meter installed and of the manner in which and date by |
|
which the customer must decline installation. If a customer timely |
|
declines to have the advanced meter installed, the utility: |
|
(1) may charge the customer a reasonable fee for costs |
|
associated with the refusal of installation and with providing |
|
traditional metering services; and |
|
(2) may not: |
|
(A) install the meter; or |
|
(B) charge the customer the nonbypassable |
|
surcharge otherwise authorized by Subsection (h). |
|
(l) An electric utility or transmission and distribution |
|
utility that has deployed advanced meters under a plan approved by |
|
the commission shall send by mail to each customer that is using an |
|
installed advanced meter a notice to inform the customer that the |
|
customer may choose to have the meter removed and of the manner in |
|
which the customer must choose removal. If the customer chooses to |
|
remove the advanced meter, the utility: |
|
(1) shall remove the advanced meter; and |
|
(2) may charge the customer a reasonable fee for costs |
|
associated with: |
|
(A) removing the advanced meter; |
|
(B) installing a conventional meter; and |
|
(C) providing traditional metering services. |
|
(m) The commission by rule shall establish a mechanism for |
|
charging the fees authorized by Subsections (k) and (l). The amount |
|
of the fee for a customer who declines to have an advanced meter |
|
installed must be the same as that for a customer who chooses to |
|
remove an advanced meter. The commission by rule shall provide for |
|
a minimum period between the time a notice under Subsection (k) is |
|
mailed and the date by which a customer must decline installation. |
|
SECTION 2. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
|
adopt rules under Section 39.107(m), Utilities Code, as added by |
|
this Act, as soon as practicable following the effective date of |
|
this Act, but not later than January 1, 2014. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |