| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the disconnection of electric service by certain |
|
|
entities during an extreme weather emergency. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 39.101(h), Utilities Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(h) A retail electric provider, power generation company, |
|
|
aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service |
|
|
may not disconnect service to a residential customer during an |
|
|
extreme weather emergency or on a weekend day. The entity providing |
|
|
service shall defer collection of the full payment of bills that are |
|
|
due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency |
|
|
is over and shall work with customers to establish a pay schedule |
|
|
for deferred bills. For purposes of this subsection, "extreme |
|
|
weather emergency" means a period when: |
|
|
(1) the previous day's highest temperature did not |
|
|
exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to |
|
|
remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the |
|
|
nearest National Weather Service reports; [or] |
|
|
(2) the National Weather Service issues a heat |
|
|
advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when |
|
|
such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two |
|
|
calendar days; or |
|
|
(3) any county in the relevant service territory is |
|
|
the subject of a weather-related disaster declaration by the |
|
|
governor under Chapter 418, Government Code. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |