| 1 | 1 | | 84R12798 GRM-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Keffer H.B. No. 3749 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the recovery of certain natural gas distribution |
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| 8 | 8 | | utility ratemaking proceeding expenses; adding provisions subject |
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| 9 | 9 | | to a criminal penalty. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 103.021, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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| 12 | 12 | | adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (d) In establishing a gas utility's rates under this |
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| 14 | 14 | | subchapter, a municipality shall allow a gas utility to recover |
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| 15 | 15 | | through its rates on a systemwide basis only, as an operating |
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| 16 | 16 | | expense, the gas utility's reasonable and necessary expenses of |
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| 17 | 17 | | participating in a proceeding under this subtitle. |
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| 18 | 18 | | SECTION 2. Section 103.022(b), Utilities Code, is amended |
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| 19 | 19 | | to read as follows: |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) The gas utility in the ratemaking proceeding shall |
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| 21 | 21 | | reimburse the governing body of the municipality for the reasonable |
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| 22 | 22 | | cost of the services of a person engaged under Subsection (a) to the |
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| 23 | 23 | | extent the applicable regulatory authority determines reasonable. |
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| 24 | 24 | | For purposes of Section 103.021 or 104.057, the amount paid as |
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| 25 | 25 | | reimbursement under this subsection is a reasonable and necessary |
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| 26 | 26 | | expense of participating in a proceeding under this subtitle. |
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| 27 | 27 | | SECTION 3. Section 104.057, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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| 28 | 28 | | adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (c) In establishing a gas utility's rates, the regulatory |
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| 30 | 30 | | authority shall allow the gas utility to recover through its rates |
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| 31 | 31 | | on a systemwide basis only, as an operating expense, the gas |
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| 32 | 32 | | utility's reasonable and necessary expenses of participating in a |
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| 33 | 33 | | proceeding under this subtitle. |
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| 34 | 34 | | SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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| 35 | 35 | | to a rate proceeding in which the initial hearing is held on or |
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| 36 | 36 | | after the effective date of this Act. A proceeding in which the |
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| 37 | 37 | | initial hearing is held before that date is governed by the law in |
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| 38 | 38 | | effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that |
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| 39 | 39 | | law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 40 | 40 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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