BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1468 81R6217 TJS-D By: Davis, Wendy Business & Commerce 4/27/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, retail electric providers are not required to notify customers of the end of a fixed-price electric contract. With the amount of time that it takes to change providers, it could be several billing cycles before a customer realizes that his or her contract has expired. The bill would require a retail electric provider to notify a customer with a fixed-price contract of the date that his or her contract expires, as well as the date the price is scheduled to change and the amount of the change. This notice must also include a statement reminding customers that they may shop for electricity providers. As proposed, S.B. 1468 relates to the notice of expiration and price change in retail electric service contracts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, by adding Section 39.112, as follows: Sec. 39.112. NOTICE OF EXPIRATION AND PRICE CHANGE. (a) Defines "fixed price contract." (b) Requires a retail electric provider to provide a residential customer who has a fixed price contract with written notification of the date the fixed price contract is scheduled to expire, the date the price is scheduled to change, if applicable, and the amount of the price change. Requires that the notice be sent to the customer's billing address by mail postmarked not less than 60 days before the date the price is scheduled to change; be sent to the customer's e-mail address, if available to the provider, not less than 60 days before the date the price is scheduled to change; and include a statement that reads: "You may shop for electricity providers at http://www.powertochoose.org." SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1468
81R6217 TJS-D By: Davis, Wendy
Business & Commerce
4/27/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, retail electric providers are not required to notify customers of the end of a fixed-price electric contract. With the amount of time that it takes to change providers, it could be several billing cycles before a customer realizes that his or her contract has expired.
The bill would require a retail electric provider to notify a customer with a fixed-price contract of the date that his or her contract expires, as well as the date the price is scheduled to change and the amount of the change. This notice must also include a statement reminding customers that they may shop for electricity providers.
As proposed, S.B. 1468 relates to the notice of expiration and price change in retail electric service contracts.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, by adding Section 39.112, as follows:
Sec. 39.112. NOTICE OF EXPIRATION AND PRICE CHANGE. (a) Defines "fixed price contract."
(b) Requires a retail electric provider to provide a residential customer who has a fixed price contract with written notification of the date the fixed price contract is scheduled to expire, the date the price is scheduled to change, if applicable, and the amount of the price change. Requires that the notice be sent to the customer's billing address by mail postmarked not less than 60 days before the date the price is scheduled to change; be sent to the customer's e-mail address, if available to the provider, not less than 60 days before the date the price is scheduled to change; and include a statement that reads: "You may shop for electricity providers at http://www.powertochoose.org."
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.