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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to rates charged by certain transmission and distribution |
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utilities to certain places of worship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 36, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 36.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 36.010. RATES FOR CERTAIN PLACES OF WORSHIP. (a) This |
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section only applies to a transmission and distribution utility |
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that: |
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(1) on January 1, 2017, operated solely in ERCOT; and |
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(2) provides service to fewer than 100,000 meters. |
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(b) A transmission and distribution utility providing |
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service to a customer that is a nonprofit place of worship shall |
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bill the customer on a kilowatt hour basis. If the customer has |
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separately metered facilities, the utility shall bill each of those |
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facilities on a kilowatt hour basis if the facilities operate |
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primarily during off-peak periods. |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
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adopt rules as necessary to implement Section 36.010, Utilities |
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Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable. A transmission |
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and distribution utility shall modify its rates applicable to each |
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nonprofit place of worship in accordance with Section 36.010, |
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Utilities Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, |
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2018. |
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SECTION 3. (a) Notwithstanding any other law or agreement, |
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on the petition of a nonprofit place of worship, the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas shall evaluate a charge for transmission or |
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distribution service charged by a transmission and distribution |
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utility to the place of worship on or after January 1, 2017, and |
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before January 1, 2018, to determine whether the charge complies |
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with Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) If the Public Utility Commission of Texas determines |
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under Subsection (a) of this section that the charge does not comply |
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with Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, the |
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commission: |
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(1) by order shall require the utility to refund to the |
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nonprofit place of worship money collected from the charge in |
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excess of the charge fixed under Section 36.010, Utilities Code, as |
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added by this Act; and |
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(2) may allow the place of worship to recover from the |
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utility any reasonable expenses incurred by the place of worship in |
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the process of submitting a petition under this section. |
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(c) This section expires and a nonprofit place of worship |
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may not submit a petition under this section after September 1, |
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2019. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |