84R2007 DDT-D
By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 575
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the notice of contract expiration provided to retail
electric customers by retail electric providers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.112(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A retail electric provider shall provide a residential
customer who has a fixed rate product with at least one written
notice of the date the fixed rate product will expire. The notice
must:
(1) be sent to the customer's billing address by mail
at least 30, but not more than 60, days preceding the date the
contract will expire;
(2) be sent to the customer's e-mail address, if
available to the provider and if the customer has agreed to receive
notices electronically, at least 30, but not more than 60, days
preceding the date the contract will expire;
(3) include on the outside of the envelope in which the
notice is sent, a statement that reads: "Contract Expiration
Notice. See Enclosed.";
(4) if included with a customer's bill, be printed on a
separate page; [and]
(5) include a description of any fees or charges
associated with the early termination of the customer's fixed rate
product; and
(6) include, in 14-point boldfaced type or 14-point
uppercase letters, a notice that reads as follows: "YOUR CONTRACT
FOR FIXED RATE ELECTRICITY EXPIRES SOON. YOUR RATE MAY CHANGE WHEN
THE CONTRACT EXPIRES."[.]
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a notice sent on or after the effective date of this Act. A notice
sent before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
effect at that time.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.