| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the registration and regulation of brokers by the |
|
|
Public Utility Commission of Texas. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 39.3555 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 39.3555. REGISTRATION OF BROKERS. (a) In this |
|
|
section, "brokerage services" means providing advice or |
|
|
procurement services to, or acting on behalf of, a retail electric |
|
|
customer regarding the selection of a retail electric provider, or |
|
|
a product or service offered by a retail electric provider. |
|
|
(b) A person may not provide brokerage services, including |
|
|
brokerage services offered online, in this state for compensation |
|
|
or other consideration unless the person is registered with the |
|
|
commission as a broker. |
|
|
(c) A retail electric provider may not register as a broker. |
|
|
A broker may not sell or take title to electric energy. |
|
|
(d) A retail electric provider may not knowingly provide |
|
|
bids or offers to a person who: |
|
|
(1) provides brokerage services in this state for |
|
|
compensation or other consideration; and |
|
|
(2) has not registered as a broker with the |
|
|
commission. |
|
|
(e) A person who registers under this section shall comply |
|
|
with customer protection provisions, disclosure requirements, and |
|
|
marketing guidelines established by the commission and by this |
|
|
chapter and Chapter 17. |
|
|
(f) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
|
|
implement this section. |
|
|
(g) The commission shall process a person's application for |
|
|
registration as a broker not later than the 60th day after the date |
|
|
the person files the application. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |