86R11124 BRG-F
 
  By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 3341
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requirements for adding a dwelling unit that has
  individual unit metering to an electric service plan; imposing a
  civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 184, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 184.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 184.015.  DIRECT METER PROGRAMS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Dwelling unit" includes a manufactured home in a
  manufactured home rental community.
               (2)  "Electric service plan" includes a plan offered
  by:
                     (A)  a retail electric provider, as defined by
  Section 31.002;
                     (B)  an electric cooperative, as defined by
  Section 11.003; or
                     (C)  a municipally owned utility, as defined by
  Section 11.003.
               (3)  "Manufactured home rental community" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 13.501, Water Code.
               (4)  "Occupant" means a person who owns or rents a
  dwelling unit.
         (b)  The owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house,
  single-family home, or manufactured home rental community that has
  individual utility metering may add a dwelling unit to the electric
  service plan that provides electric service to the owner, operator,
  or manager only with the written consent of:
               (1)  the owner-occupant; or
               (2)  all occupants renting the unit. 
         (c)  An owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house,
  single-family home, or manufactured home rental community who adds
  a dwelling unit to an electric service plan in accordance with
  Subsection (b) may:
               (1)  maintain the electric meter for the unit in the
  name of the owner, operator, or manager; and
               (2)  charge the occupants of the unit for the cost of
  the electric service provided to the unit and a reasonable
  administrative fee.
         (d)  An owner, operator, or manager of an apartment house,
  single-family home, or manufactured home rental community may
  maintain a water or gas meter in the name of the owner, operator, or
  manager, and charge occupants of a dwelling unit for the cost of the
  water or gas utility service provided to the unit and a reasonable
  administrative fee. 
         (e)  An action taken by an owner, operator, or manager of an
  apartment home, single-family home, or manufactured home rental
  community under Subsection (b) or (c) does not constitute the
  provision of electric service for compensation.
         (f)  The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
  implement this section and to ensure that:
               (1)  an occupant of a dwelling unit has sufficient
  information to provide informed, written consent to add a dwelling
  unit to an electric service plan in accordance with Subsection (b);
               (2)  an owner, operator, or manager of an apartment
  home, single-family home, or manufactured home rental community
  fairly allocates the cost of electric, gas, and water utility
  services between occupants in a dwelling unit when multiple
  occupants are billed separately; and
               (3)  an owner, operator, or manager of an apartment
  home, single-family home, or manufactured home rental community
  maintains adequate records for each dwelling unit, including
  monthly consumption billing and payment records, and either:
                     (A)  makes the records available for inspection by
  occupants of the unit during normal business hours; or
                     (B)  if a third party maintains the records,
  provides a clear description of the third party and the third
  party's contact information in each billing statement sent to
  occupants.
         SECTION 2.  Section 184.071, Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 184.071.  LIABILITY. (a) A landlord or manager who
  violates a commission rule relating to submetering of electric
  utilities consumed exclusively in a tenant's dwelling unit, [or] a
  rule relating to the allocation of central system utility costs or
  nonsubmetered master metered electric utility costs, or a rule
  adopted under Section 184.015 is liable to the tenant or an occupant
  for:
               (1)  three times the amount of any overcharge;
               (2)  a civil penalty equal to one month's rent;
               (3)  reasonable attorney's fees; and
               (4)  court costs.
         (b)  A landlord or manager is not liable for the civil
  penalty provided by Subsection (a)(2) if the landlord or manager
  proves that the [landlord's] violation of the rule was an
  unintentional mistake made in good faith.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.