84R12520 DDT-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1500
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of
certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to
promote energy conservation and efficiency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 44 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 44. ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES
Sec. 44.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Fund" means the historic structure energy
assistance fund.
(2) "Historic structure" has the meaning assigned by
Section 442.001, Government Code.
Sec. 44.002. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to a
county that:
(1) has a population of 400,000 or more;
(2) is adjacent to an international border;
(3) borders the Gulf of Mexico; and
(4) is in an area where customer choice has not been
adopted.
Sec. 44.003. HISTORIC STRUCTURE ENERGY ASSISTANCE. (a)
The historic structure energy assistance fund is an account in the
general revenue fund administered by the commission. Money in the
account may be appropriated only for the purposes of a program
created under Subsection (c). Interest earned on the fund shall be
credited to the fund notwithstanding Section 404.071, Government
Code.
(b) The commission shall adopt and enforce rules requiring
electric utilities, municipally owned utilities, and electric
cooperatives to:
(1) establish a monthly surcharge in an amount of 50
cents per customer to finance the fund; and
(2) remit the collected surcharges to the comptroller
for deposit to the credit of the fund.
(c) The commission shall establish a grant or loan or other
assistance program designed to:
(1) increase energy efficiency in historic
structures;
(2) promote energy conservation in historic
structures; and
(3) assist owners of historic structures with electric
bill payments.
(d) The commission by rule shall establish application
procedures and eligibility criteria for an owner of a historic
structure in need of assistance with payment of electric bills or
with energy conservation or energy efficiency measures.
(e) The commission may use money from the fund to pay the
commission's costs associated with:
(1) establishing the program under Subsection (c),
including costs of rulemaking; and
(2) administering the program and fund.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.