Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB857 by Lucio III (Relating to the frequency of water audits by certain retail public utilities.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code to require a retail public utility that provides potable water to perform and file an annual water audit with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) computing the utility's system water loss during the preceding year beginning not later than September 1, 2014. A retail public utility that does not receive financial assistance from TWDB and serves a population of 3,300 or less must perform and file an audit every five years.
Local Government Impact
There could be costs to certain retail public utilities that would vary by utility depending on current reporting procedures and costs for a water loss audit.
According to a previous study conducted by TWDB, estimated costs to a retail public utility to complete an annual water loss audit ranged from less than $1,000 to $20,000 depending on the size of the utility and their current records system.