85R3703 GRM-F
 
  By: Miles S.B. No. 1985
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the revocation or amendment of a certificate of public
  convenience and necessity for water utilities in a service area.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 13.254, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a-3), (a-4), (d), (e), (f), and (g) and
  adding Subsection (a-12) to read as follows:
         (a-3)  Within 90 [60] calendar days from the date the utility
  commission determines the petition filed pursuant to Subsection
  (a-1) to be administratively complete, the utility commission shall
  grant the petition unless the utility commission makes an express
  finding that the petitioner failed to satisfy the elements required
  in Subsection (a-1) and supports its finding with separate findings
  and conclusions for each element based solely on the information
  provided by the petitioner and the certificate holder. The utility
  commission may grant or deny a petition subject to terms and
  conditions specifically related to the service request of the
  petitioner and all relevant information submitted by the petitioner
  and the certificate holder. In addition, the utility commission
  may require an award of compensation as otherwise provided by this
  section.
         (a-4)  Chapter 2001, Government Code, does not apply to any
  petition filed under Subsection (a-1). [The decision of the
  utility commission on the petition is final after any
  reconsideration authorized by the utility commission's rules and
  may not be appealed.]
         (a-12)  The utility commission may not grant a petition
  received under Subsection (a-5) if, before the 30th day after the
  date the landowner files the petition under Subsection (a-5), the
  certificate holder demonstrates that the certificate holder,
  through planning, design, construction of facilities, or
  contractual obligations to serve the tract of land, has made
  service available to the tract. On the utility commission's
  determination that the certificate holder has made the
  demonstration, the utility commission shall inform the petitioner
  that:
               (1)  the tract of land is not eligible for expedited
  release under Subsection (a-5); and
               (2)  the landowner may seek expedited release under
  Subsection (a-1) if that subsection is applicable.
         (d)  A petitioner whose petition under Subsection (a-1) or
  (a-5) has been granted shall provide just and adequate [retail
  public utility may not in any way render retail water or sewer
  service directly or indirectly to the public in an area that has
  been decertified under this section without providing]
  compensation in accordance with Subsection (g), as determined by
  [for any property that] the utility commission [determines is
  rendered useless or valueless to the decertified retail public
  utility as a result of the decertification]. A utility commission
  order following a petition under Subsection (a-1) or (a-5) to
  revoke or amend a certificate takes effect on the date the
  petitioner pays the compensation or deposits an equal amount into
  the registry of the district court under Subsection (f).
         (e)  The utility commission shall conduct a hearing to
  determine [determination of] the monetary amount of compensation a
  petitioner under Subsection (a-1) or (a-5) must pay in accordance
  with Chapter 2001, Government Code. The utility commission shall
  make the determination [, if any, shall be determined at the time
  another retail public utility seeks to provide service in the
  previously decertified area and before service is actually
  provided. The utility commission shall ensure that the monetary
  amount of compensation is determined] not later than the 90th
  calendar day after the date on which [a retail public utility
  notifies] the utility commission revokes or amends a certificate
  [of its intent to provide service to the decertified area].
         (f)  If either party to a proceeding following a petition
  under Subsection (a-1) or (a-5) appeals the utility commission
  order to revoke or amend a certificate or the compensation order,
  the [The] monetary amount of compensation [shall be] determined by
  the utility commission shall be deposited into the registry of the
  district court of Travis County pending the outcome of the appeal [a
  qualified individual or firm serving as independent appraiser
  agreed upon by the decertified retail public utility and the retail
  public utility seeking to serve the area. The determination of
  compensation by the independent appraiser shall be binding on the
  utility commission. The costs of the independent appraiser shall
  be borne by the retail public utility seeking to serve the area].
         (g)  For the purpose of implementing this section, the value
  of real property owned and utilized by the retail public utility for
  its facilities shall be determined according to the standards set
  forth in Chapter 21, Property Code, governing actions in eminent
  domain and the value of personal property shall be determined
  according to the factors in this subsection. The factors ensuring
  that the compensation to a retail public utility is just and
  adequate shall include: the amount of the retail public utility's
  debt allocable for service to the area in question; the value of the
  service facilities of the retail public utility located within the
  area in question; the amount of any expenditures for planning,
  design, or construction of service facilities that are allocable to
  service to the area in question; the amount of the retail public
  utility's contractual obligations allocable to the area in
  question; any demonstrated impairment of service or increase of
  cost to consumers of the retail public utility remaining after the
  decertification; the impact of [on] future revenues lost [from
  existing customers]; necessary and reasonable legal expenses and
  professional fees; and other relevant factors. The utility
  commission shall adopt rules governing the evaluation of these
  factors.
         SECTION 2.  Section 13.255, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (g) and (l) to read as follows:
         (g)  For the purpose of implementing this section, the value
  of real property owned and utilized by the retail public utility for
  its facilities shall be determined according to the standards set
  forth in Chapter 21, Property Code, governing actions in eminent
  domain; the value of personal property shall be determined
  according to the factors in this subsection. The factors ensuring
  that the compensation to a retail public utility is just and
  adequate, shall, at a minimum, include: impact on the existing
  indebtedness of the retail public utility and its ability to repay
  that debt, the value of the service facilities of the retail public
  utility located within the area in question, the amount of any
  expenditures for planning, design, or construction of service
  facilities outside the incorporated or annexed area that are
  allocable to service to the area in question, the amount of the
  retail public utility's contractual obligations allocable to the
  area in question, any demonstrated impairment of service or
  increase of cost to consumers of the retail public utility
  remaining after the single certification, the impact of [on] future
  revenues lost [from existing customers], necessary and reasonable
  legal expenses and professional fees, factors relevant to
  maintaining the current financial integrity of the retail public
  utility, and other relevant factors.
         (l)  For an area incorporated or annexed by a municipality,
  the compensation provided under Subsection (g) shall be determined
  by the utility commission in accordance with Chapter 2001,
  Government Code [a qualified individual or firm to serve as
  independent appraiser, who shall be selected by the affected retail
  public utility, and the costs of the appraiser shall be paid by the
  municipality. For an area annexed by a municipality, the
  compensation provided under Subsection (g) shall be determined by a
  qualified individual or firm to which the municipality and the
  retail public utility agree to serve as independent appraiser. If
  the retail public utility and the municipality are unable to agree
  on a single individual or firm to serve as the independent appraiser
  before the 11th day after the date the retail public utility or
  municipality notifies the other party of the impasse, the retail
  public utility and municipality each shall appoint a qualified
  individual or firm to serve as independent appraiser. On or before
  the 10th business day after the date of their appointment, the
  independent appraisers shall meet to reach an agreed determination
  of the amount of compensation. If the appraisers are unable to
  agree on a determination before the 16th business day after the date
  of their first meeting under this subsection, the retail public
  utility or municipality may petition the utility commission or a
  person the utility commission designates for the purpose to appoint
  a third qualified independent appraiser to reconcile the appraisals
  of the two originally appointed appraisers. The determination of
  the third appraiser may not be less than the lesser or more than the
  greater of the two original appraisals. The costs of the
  independent appraisers for an annexed area shall be shared equally
  by the retail public utility and the municipality. The
  determination of compensation under this subsection is binding on
  the utility commission].
         SECTION 3.  Section 13.254(g-1), Water Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity that commences on or after the effective date of this Act.
  A proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity that commenced before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding commenced,
  and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.