| 1 | 1 | | 88R9524 DIO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Plesa H.B. No. 2531 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to notice required after an intentional shutoff of |
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| 8 | 8 | | electric and water service. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 17.004, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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| 11 | 11 | | adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (a-1) Not later than three hours after an electric utility |
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| 13 | 13 | | intentionally shuts off electric power to a customer in response to |
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| 14 | 14 | | an emergency event, the utility, or the customer's retail electric |
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| 15 | 15 | | provider, as appropriate, shall notify the customer of the shutoff |
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| 16 | 16 | | by e-mail or text message. The notice must include the following |
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| 17 | 17 | | information: |
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| 18 | 18 | | (1) the estimated time and date that the utility will |
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| 19 | 19 | | restore electric power to the customer; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | (2) whether the shutoff is part of an involuntary load |
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| 21 | 21 | | shedding event. |
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| 22 | 22 | | SECTION 2. Section 17.005, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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| 23 | 23 | | adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (g) Not later than three hours after a municipally owned |
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| 25 | 25 | | utility intentionally shuts off electric power to a customer in |
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| 26 | 26 | | response to an emergency event, the utility shall notify the |
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| 27 | 27 | | customer of the shutoff by e-mail or text message. The notice must |
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| 28 | 28 | | include the following information: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) the estimated time and date that the utility will |
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| 30 | 30 | | restore electric power to the customer; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) whether the shutoff is part of an involuntary load |
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| 32 | 32 | | shedding event. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 3. Section 17.006, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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| 34 | 34 | | adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: |
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| 35 | 35 | | (g) Not later than three hours after an electric cooperative |
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| 36 | 36 | | intentionally shuts off electric power to a customer in response to |
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| 37 | 37 | | an emergency event, the utility shall notify the customer of the |
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| 38 | 38 | | shutoff by e-mail or text message. The notice must include the |
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| 39 | 39 | | following information: |
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| 40 | 40 | | (1) the estimated time and date that the utility will |
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| 41 | 41 | | restore electric power to the customer; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (2) whether the shutoff is part of an involuntary load |
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| 43 | 43 | | shedding event. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is amended |
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| 45 | 45 | | by adding Section 13.1397 to read as follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | Sec. 13.1397. NOTICE REQUIRED FOR INTENTIONAL SHUTOFF OF |
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| 47 | 47 | | SERVICE. Not later than three hours after a retail public utility |
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| 48 | 48 | | intentionally shuts off water service to a customer in response to |
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| 49 | 49 | | an emergency event, the utility shall notify the customer of the |
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| 50 | 50 | | shutoff by e-mail or text message. The notice must include the |
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| 51 | 51 | | estimated time and date that the utility will restore water service |
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| 52 | 52 | | to the customer. |
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| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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