81R11084 TRH-D
By: Lucio III H.B. No. 4636
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to energy efficiency audits and improvement loans for
customers of electric utilities and transmission and distribution
utilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.9055 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.9055. ENERGY EFFICIENCY AUDITS AND IMPROVEMENT
LOANS. (a) On the request of a customer and at no cost to the
customer, an electric utility or transmission and distribution
utility shall perform an energy efficiency audit of the customer's
premises.
(b) An electric utility or transmission and distribution
utility shall offer a customer who participates in an energy audit
under Subsection (a) a low-interest loan to pay the costs of
installing approved energy efficiency improvements to the
customer's premises. A customer who receives a loan under this
subsection shall repay the loan by a surcharge on the customer's
monthly electricity bill. If a customer sells, ceases to rent, or
otherwise permanently abandons the premises for which a loan is
granted, the customer shall immediately repay the entire balance of
the loan.
(c) Each electric utility and transmission and distribution
utility shall market the availability of energy efficiency audits
and upgrade loans under this section to customers of the utility
through retail electric providers.
(d) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.