| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 81R3376 TJS-D | |
| 2 | 2 | By: Edwards H.B. No. 444 | |
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 6 | 6 | AN ACT | |
| 7 | 7 | relating to the issuance of estimated customer bills by electric | |
| 8 | 8 | utilities and retail electric providers. | |
| 9 | 9 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 10 | 10 | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is | |
| 11 | 11 | amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows: | |
| 12 | 12 | Sec. 17.010. ESTIMATED BILLS. (a) An electric utility or | |
| 13 | 13 | retail electric provider may, for good cause, issue a bill to a | |
| 14 | 14 | customer that is based on an estimate of the amount of electricity | |
| 15 | 15 | used. The bill must include: | |
| 16 | 16 | (1) the word "Estimated" prominently displayed; and | |
| 17 | 17 | (2) notice that the customer may request a meter | |
| 18 | 18 | reading and defer payment until the reading is taken. | |
| 19 | 19 | (b) An electric utility or retail electric provider that | |
| 20 | 20 | receives a customer request to read the meter and defer payment | |
| 21 | 21 | under Subsection (a) may not disconnect electric utility service | |
| 22 | 22 | for nonpayment until a reasonable time after the meter is read and | |
| 23 | 23 | the customer receives a bill based on an actual meter reading. This | |
| 24 | 24 | section does not apply if the electric utility or retail electric | |
| 25 | 25 | provider cannot gain access to the premises to read the meter | |
| 26 | 26 | because of an action or a failure to take an action by the customer. | |
| 27 | 27 | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |