By: Bernal H.B. No. 872
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the confidentiality of certain government operated
  utility customer information.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code is
  amended by adding new Section 552.161 to read as follows:
         Sec. 552.161.  EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN
  GOVERNMENT OPERATED UTILITY CUSTOMER INFORMATION. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Advanced metering system" means any metering
  system that collects periodic data at regular intervals through the
  use of an automated wireless or radio network.
               (2)  "Government-operated utility" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 182.051(3), Utilities Code.
         (b)  Information is excepted from the requirements of
  Section 552.021, Government Code, if it is information maintained
  by a government-operated utility that:
               (1)  discloses whether services have been discontinued
  or are eligible for disconnection by the government-operated
  utility; or
               (2)  is collected as part of an advanced metering
  system for usage, services, and billing, including, amounts billed
  or collected for utility usage, except that all such information is
  to be made available to that customer or their designated
  representative.
         (c)  The exception to public disclosure created by this
  section is in addition to any exception created by Section 552.101,
  Government Code, including information made confidential by law
  pursuant to Section 182.052, Utilities Code. Public access to
  customer billing information covered by 552.101, Government Code,
  is denied to the extent provided by that section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 182.052(a), (b), (c), and (d), Utilities
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 182.054, a
  government-operated utility may not disclose personal information
  in a customer's account record, or any information relating to the
  volume or units of utility usage or the amounts billed to or
  collected from the individual for utility usage, unlessif the
  customer requests that the government-operated utility disclose
  such informationkeep the information confidential. However, a
  government-operated utility may disclose information related to
  the customer's volume or units of utility usage per billing cycleor
  amounts billed to or collected from the individual for utility
  usage if the primary source of water for such utility was a
  sole-source designated aquifer.
         (b)  A customer may request disclosure of the information
  under Subsection (a)confidentiality by delivering to the
  government-operated utility an appropriately marked form provided
  under Subsection (c)(3) or any other written request for disclosure
  confidentiality.
         (c)  A government-operated utility shall include with a bill
  sent to each customer or on its website:
               (1)  a notice of the customer's right to request
  disclosureconfidentiality under this subchapter; and
               (2)  a statement of the amount of any fee applicable to
  the request; and
               (3) (2)  a form by which the customer may request
  disclosureconfidentiality by marking an appropriate box on the
  form and returning it to the government-operated utility by mail or
  electronically.
         (d)  A customer may rescind a request for disclosure
  confidentiality by providing the government-operated utility
  written request to treat suchpermission to disclose personal
  information as confidential from and after the date the
  government-operated utility receives such written request.
         SECTION 3.  Section 182.053, Utilities Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1,2021.