By: Nevárez H.B. No. 4246
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to nonsubmetered billing for water or wastewater service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 552, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 552.915 to read as follows:
Sec. 552.915. MUNICIPAL NONSUBMETERED BILLING; CHARGES.
(a) Each municipally owned utility that bills for nonsubmetered
master metered utility service shall make publicly available for
each entity billed a statement that includes:
(1) a current copy of the municipally owned utility's
rate structure applicable to the billed service; and
(2) a list of fees and charges applicable to the billed
service.
(b) Subsection (a) does not authorize or require a
municipally owned utility to make an entity's bill publicly
available.
(c) A municipally owned utility may not charge a:
(1) dwelling unit base charge for nonsubmetered master
metered utility service if the utility charges a master meter
charge; or
(2) master meter charge for nonsubmetered master
metered utility service if the charge is based on the number of
dwelling units.
(d) Subsection (c) does not apply to a dwelling unit base
charge that is charged in connection with a fee imposed on the
municipally owned utility by another governmental entity.
(e) In this section:
(1) "Dwelling unit" has the meaning assigned by
Section 13.501, Water Code.
(2) "Municipally owned utility" means any utility that
provides water or sewer service and is owned, operated, and
controlled by a municipality or by a nonprofit corporation whose
directors are appointed by one or more municipalities.
(3) "Nonsubmetered master metered utility service"
has the meaning assigned by Section 13.501, Water Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.