By: Perry S.B. No. 1510
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to rates charged by certain transmission and distribution
utilities to certain places of worship.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 36, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 36.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 36.010. RATES FOR CERTAIN PLACES OF WORSHIP.
(a) This section only applies to a transmission and distribution
utility that:
(1) on January 1, 2017, operated solely in ERCOT; and
(2) provides service to fewer than 100,000 meters.
(b) A transmission and distribution utility providing
service to a customer that is a nonprofit place of worship shall
bill the customer on a kilowatt hour basis. If the customer has
separately metered facilities, the utility shall bill each of those
facilities on a kilowatt hour basis if the facilities operate
primarily during off-peak periods.
(c) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to
administer this section.
SECTION 2. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
adopt rules as necessary to implement Section 36.010, Utilities
Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable. A transmission
and distribution utility shall modify its rates applicable to each
nonprofit place of worship in accordance with Section 36.010,
Utilities Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1,
2018.
SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any other law or agreement,
on the petition of a nonprofit place of worship, the Public Utility
Commission of Texas shall evaluate a charge for transmission or
distribution service charged by a transmission and distribution
utility to the place of worship on or after September 1, 2017, and
before January 1, 2018, to determine whether the charge complies
with Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act.
(b) If the Public Utility Commission of Texas determines
under Subsection (a) of this section that the charge does not comply
with Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, the
commission:
(1) by order shall require the utility to refund to the
nonprofit place of worship money collected from the charge in
excess of the charge fixed under Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as
added by this Act; and
(2) may allow the place of worship to recover from the
utility any reasonable expenses incurred by the place of worship in
the process of submitting a petition under this section.
(c) This section expires and a nonprofit place of worship
may not submit a petition under this section after September 1,
2019.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.