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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to restoring electric service to certain vulnerable |
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customers after a power outage and customer communication. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0725 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0725. PRIORITIES FOR POWER RESTORATION TO |
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VULNERABLE CUSTOMERS AND COMMUNICATION TO CUSTOMERS. (a) In this |
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section, "vulnerable customer" means a customer: |
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(1) who qualifies for critical care or chronic |
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condition status as defined by the commission; |
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(2) who is dependent upon an electric-powered medical |
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device to sustain life; |
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(3) that has a serious medical condition that requires |
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an electric-powered medical device or electric heating or cooling |
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to prevent impairment of a major life function through a |
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significant deterioration or exacerbation of the person's medical |
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condition; |
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(4) who is the parent, guardian, or managing |
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conservator of a child who qualifies for critical care or chronic |
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condition status as defined by the commission; |
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(5) who is the parent, guardian, or managing |
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conservator of a child who is dependent upon an electric-powered |
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medical device to sustain life; or |
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(6) who is the parent, guardian or managing |
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conservator of a child that has a serious medical condition that |
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requires an electric-powered medical device or electric heating or |
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cooling to prevent impairment of a major life function through a |
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significant deterioration or exacerbation of the person's medical |
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condition. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require each retail |
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electric provider and electric cooperative that sells electricity |
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to a customer to implement a registration process by which a new |
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customer of that retail electric provider or electric cooperative |
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may report to that retail electric provider or electric cooperative |
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that the customer is a vulnerable customer. |
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(c) A retail electric provider or electric cooperative that |
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sells electricity to a customer shall maintain customer information |
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reported under this section to allow that retail electric provider |
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or electric cooperative to quickly identify vulnerable customers |
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during a power outage and notify the relevant transmission and |
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distribution utilities to prioritize those customers for power |
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restoration. |
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(d) The commission by rule shall require each retail |
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electric provider and electric cooperative that sells electricity |
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to a customer that chooses to implement a mass alert system to |
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communicate to individual customers of potential emergency |
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situations and power outages shall notify each of their customers |
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of the existence of such mass alert system when: |
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(1) the customer initially signs up to become a |
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customer of the retail electric provider or electric cooperative; |
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and |
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(2) each time the retail electric provider or electric |
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cooperative bills the customer. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall adopt the |
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rules required by Section 38.0725, Utilities Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |