84R8890 DDT-D
By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 2253
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a report by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on
retail electric service minimum usage fees and usage credits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.917. REPORT ON MINIMUM USAGE FEES AND USAGE
CREDITS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Minimum usage fee" means a fee charged to a
residential retail electric customer that is imposed based on the
amount of electricity the customer uses and is not imposed on one or
more other customers who use more electricity.
(2) "Usage credit" means a credit to a residential
retail electric customer that is given based on the amount of
electricity the customer uses and is not credited to one or more
other customers who use less electricity.
(b) The commission shall collect information relating to
retail electric providers' use of minimum usage fees and usage
credits, including:
(1) the number of customers on whom a minimum usage fee
is imposed;
(2) the number of customers who are credited with a
usage credit;
(3) the number of retail electric providers who impose
a minimum usage fee on certain customers;
(4) the number of retail electric providers who credit
certain customers with a usage credit;
(5) the number of retail electric provider plans
offered to the public that provide for the imposition of a minimum
usage fee on certain customers;
(6) the number of retail electric provider plans
offered to the public that provide for the award of a usage credit
to certain customers;
(7) the kilowatt hour usage threshold at which the
minimum usage fee is imposed and the amount of the fee or charge for
each plan that provides for the imposition of a minimum usage fee;
(8) the kilowatt hour usage threshold at which the
usage credit is awarded and the amount of the credit for each plan
that provides for the award of a usage credit;
(9) the total revenue attributable to the imposition
of the minimum usage fee for each retail electric provider that
offers a plan that includes a minimum usage fee;
(10) the total revenue attributable to the imposition
of the minimum usage fee on low-income retail electric customers
for each retail electric provider that offers a plan that includes a
minimum usage fee; and
(11) the total number of electric bills issued during
the preceding year that included either a minimum usage fee or a
usage credit.
(c) Not later than January 31 of each year, the commission
shall prepare and submit to the legislature a report that contains
and summarizes the information collected during the preceding
calendar year.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.