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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the discontinuation, reduction, or impairment of water |
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service during drought conditions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 13.250(b) and (d), Water Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Unless the utility commission issues a certificate that |
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neither the present nor future convenience and necessity will be |
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adversely affected, the holder of a certificate or a person who |
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possesses facilities used to provide utility service shall not |
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discontinue, reduce, or impair service to a certified service area |
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or part of a certified service area except [for]: |
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(1) for nonpayment of charges for services provided by |
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the certificate holder or a person who possesses facilities used to |
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provide utility service; |
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(2) for nonpayment of charges for sewer service |
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provided by another retail public utility under an agreement |
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between the retail public utility and the certificate holder or a |
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person who possesses facilities used to provide utility service or |
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under a utility commission-ordered arrangement between the two |
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service providers; |
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(3) for nonuse; [or] |
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(4) as necessary to maintain adequate water supplies |
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during drought conditions; or |
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(5) for other similar reasons in the usual course of |
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business. |
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(d) Except as provided by this subsection, a retail public |
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utility that has not been granted a certificate of public |
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convenience and necessity may not discontinue, reduce, or impair |
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retail water or sewer service to any ratepayer without approval of |
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the regulatory authority. Except as provided by this subsection, a |
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utility or water supply corporation that is allowed to operate |
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without a certificate of public convenience and necessity under |
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Section 13.242(c) may not discontinue, reduce, or impair retail |
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water or sewer service to any ratepayer without the approval of the |
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regulatory authority. Subject to rules of the regulatory |
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authority, a retail public utility, utility, or water supply |
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corporation described in this subsection may discontinue, reduce, |
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or impair retail water or sewer service [for]: |
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(1) for nonpayment of charges; |
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(2) for nonuse; [or] |
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(3) as necessary to maintain adequate water supplies |
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during drought conditions; or |
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(4) for other similar reasons in the usual course of |
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business. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |