By: Canales H.B. No. 2828

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of onetime cash payments to certain electric customers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Texas Emergency Refund Act.

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 39.918 to read as follows:

Sec. 39.918. EMERGENCY REFUNDS. (a) The commission shall establish a program to provide onetime cash payments from state funds appropriated for that purpose to retail customers of municipally owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and retail electric providers in the ERCOT power region.

(b) The program must provide a payment of:

(1) $250 for each residential retail account; and

(2) $250 for each commercial retail account.

(c) Not later than October 1, 2021, each municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, and retail electric provider shall provide to the commission a list of each retail account served by the utility, cooperative, or provider after February 13, 2021, and before February 19, 2021.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2021, the commission shall provide to each municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, and retail electric provider the amount of money required to provide to each retail account listed by the utility, cooperative, or provider under Subsection (c) the appropriate payment under Subsection (b).

(e) Not later than the 14th day after the date a municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, or retail electric provider receives money from the commission under Subsection (d), the utility, cooperative, or provider shall:

(1) credit each retail account with the appropriate amount under Subsection (b); and

(2) for accounts that were closed after February 19, 2021:

(A) send a payment in the appropriate amount under Subsection (b) to the former account holder; or

(B) if the utility, cooperative, or provider cannot contact the former account holder, return that account's payment to the commission.

SECTION 3. 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.