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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice of bill payment assistance programs for certain |
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electric customers. |
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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 39.9031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.9031. NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. (a) A retail |
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electric provider, municipally owned utility, or electric |
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cooperative that provided reduced rates to customers using support |
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from the former system benefit fund shall provide to those |
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customers, at least one time, written notice of each bill payment |
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assistance program that might be available to assist those |
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customers. Unless the commission under Subsection (b) establishes |
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an alternative manner in which the notice may be sent, the retail |
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electric provider, municipally owned utility, or electric |
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cooperative shall include the notice with a bill sent to the |
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customer. |
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(b) The commission may adopt rules establishing an |
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alternate method of providing the notice described by Subsection |
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(a). |
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(c) A notice required by this section must be provided not |
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later than March 1, 2018. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |