Relating to the disconnection of electric service by certain entities during an extreme weather emergency.
Summary
SB 1312 would prohibit certain retail electric service providers from disconnecting residential electric service during an “extreme weather emergency” or on a weekend day. It also requires providers to defer collection of bills due during the emergency and work with customers to set up a repayment schedule after the emergency ends.
The bill expands the definition of “extreme weather emergency” to include not only freezing conditions, but also heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service and weather-related disaster declarations by the governor for any county in the service territory. The measure applies to retail electric providers, power generation companies, aggregators, and other entities that provide retail electric service.
Impact
The bill would amend Section 39.101(h) of the Texas Utilities Code to broaden existing protections against electric shutoffs for residential customers. It would add heat advisories and gubernatorial disaster declarations as triggers for the no-disconnection rule, while preserving the existing winter-weather protection and weekend disconnection ban. The bill would also require deferred billing and repayment arrangements for charges that come due during the emergency, affecting electric providers and residential customers statewide.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate support or opposition. Based on the bill’s text, the measure appears consumer-protective and aimed at preventing utility shutoffs during dangerous weather conditions, suggesting a generally favorable policy posture toward residential customers.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials because there are no committee transcripts or votes. Potential areas of dispute, based on the bill’s provisions, could include the expanded definition of extreme weather emergency, the operational burden on electric providers, and the requirement to defer payment and negotiate repayment plans with affected customers.
An Act to direct the State Corporation Commission to determine maximum allowable fees for disconnection and reconnection charged by certain electric utilities; disconnections for nonpayment.