Relating to public information regarding the rates of a transmission and distribution utility.
Summary
SB 1664 requires transmission and distribution utilities to submit a stand-alone, public-facing rate transparency document whenever they file to change rates with the Public Utility Commission of Texas or another applicable regulatory authority. The document must show how the proposed change affects each rate class, how long the change would remain in effect, the expected revenue impact, and the before-and-after delivery charges for an average residential customer, including the difference between those amounts. For base rate increases, the utility must also estimate total revenue over the four years after implementation; for other rate changes, it must estimate revenue over the period the change is in effect.
The bill also directs the commission to require the information to be presented in a format that is easily understood by the public. If the regulator modifies the utility’s proposed rate change before approval, the utility must file an updated stand-alone document reflecting the revised proposal. In addition, the commission must publish and update at least monthly on its website or the Power to Choose website public information about transmission and distribution utility rates in an accessible format.
Impact
The bill amends Chapter 39 of the Texas Utilities Code by adding a new Section 39.113, creating a statutory transparency requirement for rate-change filings by transmission and distribution utilities. It does not change the substantive standards for approving rates, but it adds disclosure obligations for utilities and administrative duties for the Public Utility Commission of Texas to present and maintain rate information for the public. The law applies only to rate proceedings that begin on or after September 1, 2025, leaving earlier proceedings governed by prior law.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan and institutional support, with unanimous passage in the Senate and overwhelming approval in the House. The voting record suggests little overt opposition, and the measure was treated as a transparency and consumer-information bill rather than a controversial rate-setting overhaul. The absence of committee transcript debate in the provided materials also suggests limited recorded contention.
Contention
The main policy issue is not whether utilities may change rates, but how clearly those changes must be explained to customers and regulators. Any concern would likely come from utilities or industry stakeholders about the administrative burden of preparing additional disclosures, especially when a regulator alters the proposed rate change and a revised document must be filed. Consumer advocates and transparency-focused lawmakers would likely support the bill’s emphasis on understandable public information, while utilities may be more cautious about the added reporting requirements and public-facing comparisons.
Relating to notice provided to certain state and local officials regarding an appeal of a municipal order filed by a transmission and distribution utility in a ratemaking proceeding.