87R11594 JAM-D
By: Crockett H.B. No. 3167
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to protection for residential electric customers from
disconnection of retail electric service in certain weather
conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.101(h), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(h) A retail electric provider, power generation company,
aggregator, or other entity that provides retail electric service
may not disconnect service to a residential customer during an
extreme weather emergency or on a weekend day. The entity providing
service shall defer collection of the full payment of bills that are
due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency
is over and shall work with customers to establish a pay schedule
for deferred bills. For purposes of this subsection, "extreme
weather emergency" means a period when:
(1) the previous day's highest temperature did not
exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to
remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the
nearest National Weather Service reports; [or]
(2) the temperature exceeds 90 degrees Fahrenheit and
the temperature is predicted to remain at or above that level for
the next 24 hours according to the nearest National Weather Service
reports; or
(3) the National Weather Service issues a heat
advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when
such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two
calendar days.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.