Bill Text: TX HB1171 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to civil liability for certain damages caused by advanced meters.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-20 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1171 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB1171-Introduced.html
  83R8085 T
 
  By: Simpson H.B. No. 1171
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil liability for certain damages caused by advanced
  meters.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.107, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows:
         (k)(1)  In this subsection, "property damage" includes:
                     (A)  an invasion of personal privacy; and
                     (B)  economic damage caused by the loss, misuse or
  theft of data that is acquired by use of an advanced meter and
  belongs to a customer under this section.
               (2)  This subsection applies to an electric utility or
  transmission and distribution utility that receives from the
  commission approval of the utility's plan for deploying advanced
  meters that transmit data using wireless technology, if the plan
  does not:
                     (A)  allow each customer scheduled to receive an
  advanced meter under the plan to decline, without charge, to have
  the advanced meter installed; or
                     (B)  allow each customer that is using an
  installed advanced meter to choose to have the meter removed,
  without charge.
               (3)  An electric utility or a transmission and
  distribution utility described by subsection (2) is civilly liable
  to a customer for personal injury, property damage or death arising
  out of the use of an advanced meter.
         (l)  An electric utility or transmission and distribution
  utility that receives from the commission approval of the utility's
  plan for deploying advanced meters shall send by mail to each
  customer scheduled to receive an advanced meter under the plan a
  notice to inform the customer that the customer may decline,
  without charge, to have the advanced meter installed and of the
  manner in which and date by which the customer must decline
  installation. An electric utility or transmission and distribution
  utility that has deployed advanced meters under a plan approved by
  the commission shall send by mail to each customer that is using an
  installed advanced meter a notice to inform the customer that the
  customer may choose to have the meter removed without charge and of
  the manner in which the customer must choose removal.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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