Bill Text: TX HB4118 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to service provided to residential customers by certain gas utilities during weather emergencies; authorizing a civil penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-03 - Left pending in committee [HB4118 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4118-Introduced.html

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88R9142 ANG-D
By: Turner H.B. No. 4118

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to service provided to residential customers by certain
gas utilities during weather emergencies; authorizing a civil
penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 104, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 104.259 to read as follows:
Sec. 104.259. PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SERVICE DURING EXTREME
WEATHER EMERGENCY. (a) In this section, "extreme weather
emergency" has the meaning assigned by Section 104.258.
(b) The regulatory authority shall require gas utilities,
as defined by Sections 101.003 and 121.001, that serve residential
customers to provide an adequate amount of pipeline pressure in
distribution gas pipeline facilities that serve those customers
during an extreme weather emergency.
(c) If a gas utility violates Subsection (b) for at least
six consecutive hours, the regulatory authority shall require the
gas utility to provide to each affected residential customer a $100
rebate for each consecutive six-hour period in which the violation
continued.
SECTION 2. Section 105.023, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
(b-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a civil penalty under
this section shall be in the amount of $1 million for each violation
of Section 104.259. A municipality may file a suit to recover the
civil penalty if the gas utility or affiliate in violation of
Section 104.259 is regulated by the municipality.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.