87R11230 JXC-D
 
  By: Larson H.B. No. 3543
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to bill payment assistance for certain utility bills after
  a disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.9031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.9031.  DISASTER BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) The
  comptroller shall establish a program to provide bill payment
  assistance using state money 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:
               (1)  provide assistance only for unusually high bills
  for services provided after February 13, 2021, and before February
  19, 2021;
               (2)  establish criteria for determining whether a bill
  is unusually high;
               (3)  allow a customer to apply for assistance to the
  municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, or retail
  electric provider that served the customer during the time period
  in Subdivision (1); and
               (4)  require a municipally owned utility, electric
  cooperative, or retail electric provider that receives an
  application under Subdivision (3) to:
                     (A)  submit the application to the comptroller;
  and
                     (B)  provide to the customer any assistance sent
  by the comptroller to the utility, cooperative, or provider in
  response to the application.
         (c)  The comptroller shall consult with the commission when
  adopting any rules needed to implement this section.
         (d)  The commission may enforce a rule adopted by the
  comptroller to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.