Texas House Bill HB3953

Texas 2015 - 84th Regular

Caption

Relating to the functions of the Public Utility Commission of Texas in relation to the economic regulation of water and sewer service.

Impact

The proposed amendments to the law will solidify the PUC's regulatory framework, especially during emergencies. This includes stipulations that allow the PUC to compel utility providers to maintain service or establish interconnections with neighboring services in the case of imminent service failures. Additionally, municipally owned utilities are required to disclose information about ratepayers living outside municipal boundaries, which could have implications for transparency and fairness in rate-setting.

Summary

House Bill 3953 aims to refine the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) concerning the economic regulation of water and sewer services. The bill proposes modifications to the Water Code that enhance the PUC's capacity to manage situations where utilities may cease operations, ensuring continuous service delivery to customers. This includes provisions that allow the PUC to issue emergency orders without the necessity of a formal hearing in urgent cases, thereby expediting response times for service disruptions.

Contention

Some points of contention arise from the potential implications of the bill on local governance and utility management. Proponents argue that the PUC needs greater authority to manage emergencies effectively and protect consumers, particularly in the wake of utility failures or service discontinuity. Opponents may express concerns about the expansion of state control over local utility matters and the transparency regarding ratepayer data, arguing that this could undermine local oversight and complicate utility governance.