81R5044 TJS-D
By: Mallory Caraway H.B. No. 1053
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a grace period from the statement issue date for payment
of services to certain electric utilities and related entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 17.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 17.011. PERIOD FOR PAYMENT OF ELECTRIC SERVICES. (a)
A provider of electric service to a retail customer, including an
electric utility, a retail electric provider, an electric
cooperative, or a municipally owned electric utility, may not
disconnect service or pursue any other collections options for
nonpayment of a balance due before the 30th day after the date on
which the statement is issued.
(b) To the extent of any conflict between this section and
other law, including Subchapter A, Chapter 182, this section
controls.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not
affect the rights of a provider of electric utility services to
disconnect service or pursue another collections option in a manner
provided by a contract with a retail customer that was entered into
or renewed before the effective date of this Act. The rights of a
provider under a contract for electric utility services entered
into or renewed before the effective date of this Act are governed
by the law as it existed on the date the contract was entered into or
renewed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
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, 2009.