Texas House Bill HB3639

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to notice to a customer or tenant required after an intentional shutoff of electric and water service.

Impact

The bill impacts various existing laws, specifically within the Property Code and the Utilities Code. It introduces new sections that stipulate the timing and content of notifications regarding intentional utility shutoffs. This legislative change emphasizes the need for utilities and landlords to be responsible for keeping tenants informed about outages, thereby addressing concerns about customer rights and service reliability. Anticipated effects include greater awareness and preparedness among tenants and improved trust in service providers during emergency situations.

Summary

House Bill 3639 addresses the issue of planned utility shutoffs by requiring proactive communication from utilities and landlords to customers and tenants. Specifically, the bill mandates that if an intentional shutoff of electric power or water service occurs due to an emergency event, the respective utility or landlord must notify affected individuals promptly. The notification must be sent via e-mail or text message, and must include details such as the estimated restoration date and whether the shutoff is part of a rolling outage. This requirement aims to enhance transparency and communication during critical times when services are disrupted.

Contention

While the intent behind HB 3639 is generally seen as positive—aiming to protect consumer interests through better communication—it may encounter opposition based on operational concerns from utility providers. Critics might argue that the new requirements place additional burdens on utilities during crises when they are already managing significant operational challenges. There could also be discussions around the timelines mandated by the bill, which some stakeholders may view as unrealistic during emergency scenarios.