By: Darby H.B. No. 4475
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to restoring electric service to certain vulnerable
customers after a power outage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.0725 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0725. PRIORITIES FOR POWER RESTORATION TO CERTAIN
CUSTOMERS. (a) The commission by rule shall require each retail
electric provider to implement a process by which a customer of the
provider may report to the provider that the customer has a serious
medical condition that requires an electric-powered device.
(b) A retail electric provider shall maintain customer
information reported under this section to allow the retail
electric provider to quickly identify vulnerable customers during a
power outage and notify the relevant transmission and distribution
utilities to prioritize those customers for power restoration.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall adopt the
rules required by Section 38.0725, Utilities Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.