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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to nonsubmetered billing for water or wastewater service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 552.915 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 552.915. MUNICIPAL NONSUBMETERED BILLING; CHARGES. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Apartment house" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 13.501, Water Code. |
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(2) "Dwelling unit" means: |
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(A) one or more rooms in an apartment house or |
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condominium, suitable for occupancy as a residence, and containing |
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kitchen and bathroom facilities; |
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(B) a manufactured home in a manufactured home |
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rental community; or |
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(C) a unit in a multiple use facility. |
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(3) "Manufactured home rental community" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 13.501, Water Code. |
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(4) "Multiple use facility" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 13.501, Water Code. |
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(5) "Municipally owned utility" means a utility that |
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provides water or sewer service and is owned, operated, and |
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controlled by a municipality or by a nonprofit corporation whose |
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directors are appointed by one or more municipalities. |
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(6) "Nonsubmetered master metered utility service" |
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means water utility service that is master metered for the |
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apartment house, manufactured home rental community, or multiple |
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use facility but not submetered, and wastewater utility service |
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based on master metered water utility service. |
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(b) Each municipally owned utility that bills for |
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nonsubmetered master metered utility service shall make publicly |
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available for each apartment house, manufactured home rental |
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community, and multiple use facility billed a statement that |
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includes: |
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(1) a current copy of the municipally owned utility's |
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rate structure applicable to the billed service; and |
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(2) a list of fees and charges applicable to the billed |
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service. |
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(c) Subsection (b) does not authorize or require a |
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municipally owned utility to make an entity's bill publicly |
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available. |
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(d) A municipally owned utility may not charge: |
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(1) a dwelling unit base charge for nonsubmetered |
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master metered utility service if the utility charges a master |
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meter charge for the same apartment house, manufactured home rental |
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community, or multiple use facility; or |
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(2) a master meter charge for nonsubmetered master |
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metered utility service if the charge is based on the number of |
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dwelling units. |
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(e) Subsection (d) does not apply to a dwelling unit base |
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charge that is charged in connection with a fee imposed on the |
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municipally owned utility by another governmental entity. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |