89R10416 CS-D
By: Lozano H.B. No. 3407
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to installation and operation of meter socket adapters for
residential electric service customers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 17.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 17.011. METER SOCKET ADAPTER. (a) In this section,
"meter socket adapter" means an electronic device that is installed
between a residential electric meter and the meter socket to
facilitate the deployment of customer-owned or customer-leased
technology.
(b) The commission by rule shall require an electric utility
to authorize the installation and operation of a meter socket
adapter by a residential electric service customer of the utility,
regardless of whether the adapter is owned by the customer or a
third party, if the adapter meets standards adopted by the
commission. In adopting the standards, the commission shall
consider:
(1) National Electrical Code requirements for
connecting a meter socket adapter to the supply side of the service
disconnect;
(2) meter socket adapters approved or listed by a
nationally recognized testing laboratory;
(3) ratings of adapters for the meter sockets into
which the adapters are intended to be installed; and
(4) certifications of meter socket adapters offered by
a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
(c) An electric utility is not required to authorize the
installation of a meter socket adapter that prevents access to the
sealed meter socket compartment or the pull section of the service
section of the electric meter or switchboard.
(d) An electric utility or a third party, including a
manufacturer of meter socket adapters, may install, maintain, and
service a meter socket adapter or associated equipment under this
section on behalf of a residential electric service customer.
(e) Not later than the 60th day after the date an electric
utility receives a request from a residential customer in the
utility's service area or a third party to approve for installation
a specific model of meter socket adapter, the utility shall approve
or deny the request.
(f) An electric utility shall publish on the utility's
website a list of each specific model of meter socket adapter the
utility has approved under Subsection (e). An electric utility
that denies a request to approve a specific model of meter socket
adapter under Subsection (e) shall provide an explanation to the
requestor providing the reason for the denial.
SECTION 2. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
require each electric utility to modify the utility's electric
service requirements as required by Section 17.011, Utilities Code,
as added by this Act, as soon as possible after the effective date
of the rules adopted under that section.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.