Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB981 Compare Versions

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1	1	By: Van de Putte, et al. S.B. No. 981
2	2	(Menendez)
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to electric utility bill payment assistance programs for
8	8	certain veterans burned in combat.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 36.061, Utilities Code, is amended by
11	11	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
12	12	(c) An electric utility located in a portion of this state
13	13	not subject to retail competition may establish a bill payment
14	14	assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a
15	15	medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to
16	16	regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns
17	17	received in combat. A regulatory authority shall allow as a cost or
18	18	expense a cost or expense of the bill payment assistance program.
19	19	The electric utility is entitled to:
20	20	(1) fully recover all costs and expenses related to
21	21	the bill payment assistance program;
22	22	(2) defer each cost or expense related to the bill
23	23	payment assistance program not explicitly included in base rates;
24	24	and
25	25	(3) apply carrying charges at the utility's weighted
26	26	average cost of capital to the extent related to the bill payment
27	27	assistance program.
28	28	SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
29	29	amended by adding Section 39.359 to read as follows:
30	30	Sec. 39.359. BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR BURNED VETERANS.
31	31	(a) A retail electric provider may establish a bill payment
32	32	assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a
33	33	medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to
34	34	regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns
35	35	received in combat.
36	36	(b) The commission shall compile a list of programs
37	37	described by Subsection (a) that are available from retail electric
38	38	providers. The commission shall publish the list on the
39	39	commission's Internet website and the office shall provide on the
40	40	office's Internet website a link to the list.
41	41	(c) A retail electric provider shall provide to the
42	42	commission information necessary to compile the list in the form,
43	43	manner, and frequency the commission by rule requires.
44	44	SECTION 3. Chapter 182, Utilities Code, is amended by
45	45	adding Subchapter D to read as follows:
46	46	SUBCHAPTER D. BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR BURNED VETERANS
47	47	Sec. 182.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "electric
48	48	cooperative" and "municipally owned utility" have the meanings
49	49	assigned by Section 11.003.
50	50	Sec. 182.202. BURNED VETERANS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (a) The
51	51	board of directors of an electric cooperative or the governing body
52	52	of a municipally owned utility may establish a bill payment
53	53	assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a
54	54	medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to
55	55	regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns
56	56	received in combat.
57	57	(b) The costs of a bill payment assistance program
58	58	established under Subsection (a) are considered a necessary
59	59	operations expense.
60	60	(c) The board of directors of an electric cooperative or the
61	61	governing body of a municipally owned utility may determine the
62	62	method to fund a bill payment assistance program established under
63	63	Subsection (a).
64	64	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
65	65	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
66	66	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
67	67	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
68	68	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.