reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Util § 17.006 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 17.006. Protections for Customers of Electric Cooperatives

Sec. 17.006.  PROTECTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES.  (a)  An electric cooperative shall not be deemed to be a "service provider" or "billing agent" for purposes of Sections 17.156(b) and (e).(b)  The electric cooperative shall adopt, implement, and enforce rules that shall have the effect of accomplishing the objectives set out in Sections 17.004(a) and (b) and 17.102.(c)  The board of directors of the electric cooperative or its designee shall perform the dispute resolution function provided for by Section 17.157 for electric customers served by the electric cooperative within its certificated service area.(d)  With respect to electric customers served by an electric cooperative outside its certificated service area or otherwise served through others' distribution facilities, after the legislature authorizes retail competition, the provisions of this chapter as administered by the commission shall apply.(e)  Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to apply to a wholesale customer of an electric cooperative.(f)  An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information about:(1)  the cooperative's procedure for implementing involuntary load shedding;(2)  the types of customers who may be considered critical care residential customers, critical load industrial customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076;(3)  the procedure for a customer to apply to be considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; and(4)  reducing electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 426 (S.B. 3), Sec. 11, eff. June 8, 2021.|
TX Util § 17.007 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 17.007. Identification Process for Customer Service Benefits

Sec. 17.007.  IDENTIFICATION PROCESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BENEFITS.  (a)  The Health and Human Services Commission, on request of the commission, shall assist in developing an automatic process for identifying low-income customers to retail electric providers and certificated telecommunications utilities to enable those providers and utilities to offer customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, or other methods of assistance.(b)  The commission and the Health and Human Services Commission shall continue the memorandum of understanding entered into by those agencies in effect on January 1, 2017, that establishes the respective duties of those agencies in relation to the automatic process, and may amend the memorandum of understanding as necessary to achieve the goals of this section.(c)  The commission may not require a retail electric provider or a certificated telecommunications utility to offer customer service, discounts, bill payment assistance, targeted bill messaging, or other benefits for which the provider or utility is not reimbursed.(d)  The commission may not submit a request to the Health and Human Services Commission to provide for a process to identify low-income electric customers for a fiscal year unless:(1)  the commission receives a request from one or more retail electric providers not later than July 31 of the previous fiscal year for a list of low-income electric customers to be developed; and(2)  each retail electric provider that submits a request to the commission under Subdivision (1) agrees to reimburse the commission for the cost of development of the list on terms agreed to by the commission and the provider.|Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1451, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 48 (S.B. 1976), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2017.|
TX Util § 17.009 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 17.009. Protection of Residential Telephone Service Applicants and Customers

Sec. 17.009.  PROTECTION OF RESIDENTIAL TELEPHONE SERVICE APPLICANTS AND CUSTOMERS.  (a)  A provider of basic local telecommunications services and nonbasic network services may not deny an applicant's request to become a residential customer on the basis of the applicant's credit history or credit score.(b)  A provider of basic local telecommunications services and nonbasic network services may not use a credit score or credit history as the basis for determining price for service:(1)  for an existing residential customer; or(2)  in response to an applicant's request to become a residential customer.(c)  This section does not limit the authority of a provider of basic local telecommunications services and nonbasic network services to require a deposit, advance payment, or credit limit as a condition of service.|Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 926 (H.B. 412), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.|
TX Util § 17.010 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter A. General Provisions|Section 17.010. Disaster Billing Awareness

Sec. 17.010.  DISASTER BILLING AWARENESS.  The commission in cooperation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall:(1)  promote public awareness of bill payment assistance available during a disaster for electric, water, and wastewater services, including assistance for consumers on level billing plans; and(2)  provide the public with information about billing practices during a disaster to ensure that consumers of electric, water, and wastewater services have an adequate understanding of their rights.|Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 285 (H.B. 2320), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Util § 17.051 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter B. Certification, Registration, and Reporting Requirements|Section 17.051. Adoption of Rules

Sec. 17.051.  ADOPTION OF RULES.  (a)  The commission shall adopt rules relating to certification, registration, and reporting requirements for a certificated telecommunications utility, a retail electric provider, or an electric utility, as well as all telecommunications utilities that are not dominant carriers, pay telephone providers, qualifying facilities that are selling capacity into the wholesale or retail market, exempt wholesale generators, and power marketers.(b)  The rules adopted under Subsections (a) and (c) shall be consistent with and no less effective than federal law and may not require the disclosure of highly sensitive competitive or trade secret information.(c)  The commission shall adopt rules governing the local registration of retail electric providers under Section 39.358.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 48, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.|
TX Util § 17.052 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter B. Certification, Registration, and Reporting Requirements|Section 17.052. Scope of Rules

Sec. 17.052.  SCOPE OF RULES.  The commission may adopt and enforce rules to:(1)  require certification or registration with the commission as a condition of doing business in this state, except that this requirement does not apply to municipally owned utilities;(2)  amend certificates or registrations to reflect changed ownership and control;(3)  establish rules for customer service and protection;(4)  suspend or revoke certificates or registrations for repeated violations of this chapter or commission rules, except that the commission may not revoke a certificate of convenience and necessity of an electric utility except as provided by Section 37.059 or a certificate of convenience and necessity of a telecommunications utility except as provided by Section 54.008;  and(5)  order disconnection of a pay telephone service provider's pay telephones or revocation of certification or registration for repeated violations of this chapter or commission rules.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.053 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter B. Certification, Registration, and Reporting Requirements|Section 17.053. Reports

Sec. 17.053.  REPORTS.  The commission may require a telecommunications service provider, a retail electric provider, or an electric utility to submit reports to the commission concerning any matter over which it has authority under this chapter.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.101 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter C. Customer's Right to Choice|Section 17.101. Policy

Sec. 17.101.  POLICY.  It is the policy of this state that all customers be protected from the unauthorized switching of a telecommunications service provider, a retail electric provider, or an electric utility selected by the customer to provide service, where choice is permitted by law.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.102 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter C. Customer's Right to Choice|Section 17.102. Rules Relating to Choice

Sec. 17.102.  RULES RELATING TO CHOICE.  The commission shall adopt and enforce rules that:(1)  ensure that customers are protected from deceptive practices employed in obtaining authorizations of service and in the verification of change orders, including negative option marketing, sweepstakes, and contests that cause customers to unknowingly change their telecommunications service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility, where choice is permitted by law;(2)  provide for clear, easily understandable identification, in each bill sent to a customer, of all telecommunications service providers, retail electric providers, or electric utilities submitting charges on the bill;(3)  ensure that every service provider submitting charges on the bill is clearly and easily identified on the bill along with its services, products, and charges, using defined terms as required by commission rules adopted under Section 17.003;(4)  provide that unauthorized changes in service be remedied at no cost to the customer within a period established by the commission;(5)  require refunds or credits to the customer in the event of an unauthorized change; and(6)  provide for penalties for violations of commission rules adopted under this section, including fines and revocation of certificates or registrations, by this action denying the certificated telecommunications utility, the retail electric provider, or the electric utility the right to provide service in this state, except that the commission may not revoke a certificate of convenience and necessity of an electric utility except as provided by Section 37.059 or a certificate of convenience and necessity of a telecommunications utility except as provided by Section 54.008.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 648 (H.B. 1822), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2009.|
TX Util § 17.152 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.152. Responsibilities of Billing Utility

Sec. 17.152.  RESPONSIBILITIES OF BILLING UTILITY.  (a)  If a customer's telephone or retail electric bill is charged for any product or service without proper customer consent or verification, the billing utility, on its knowledge or notification of any unauthorized charge, shall promptly, not later than 45 days after the date of knowledge or notification of the charge:(1)  notify the service provider to cease charging the customer for the unauthorized product or service;(2)  remove any unauthorized charge from the customer's bill;(3)  refund or credit to the customer all money that has been paid by the customer for any unauthorized charge, and if the unauthorized charge is not adjusted within three billing cycles, shall pay interest on the amount of the unauthorized charge;(4)  on the customer's request, provide the customer with all billing records under its control related to any unauthorized charge within 15 business days after the date of the removal of the unauthorized charge from the customer's bill;  and(5)  maintain for at least 24 months a record of every customer who has experienced any unauthorized charge for a product or service on the customer's telephone or electric bill and who has notified the billing utility of the unauthorized charge.(b)  A record required by Subsection (a)(5) shall contain for each unauthorized charge:(1)  the name of the service provider that offered the product or service;(2)  any affected telephone numbers or addresses;(3)  the date the customer requested that the billing utility remove the unauthorized charge;(4)  the date the unauthorized charge was removed from the customer's telephone or electric bill;  and(5)  the date any money that the customer paid for the unauthorized charges was refunded or credited to the customer.(c)  A billing utility may not:(1)  disconnect or terminate telecommunications or electric service to any customer for nonpayment of an unauthorized charge;  or(2)  file an unfavorable credit report against a customer who has not paid charges the customer has alleged were unauthorized unless the dispute regarding the unauthorized charge is ultimately resolved against the customer, except that the customer shall remain obligated to pay any charges that are not in dispute, and this subsection does not apply to those undisputed charges.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.153 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.153. Records of Disputed Charges

Sec. 17.153.  RECORDS OF DISPUTED CHARGES.  (a)  Every service provider shall maintain a record of every disputed charge for a product or service placed on a customer's bill.(b)  The record required under Subsection (a) shall contain for every disputed charge:(1)  any affected telephone numbers or addresses;(2)  the date the customer requested that the billing utility remove the unauthorized charge;(3)  the date the unauthorized charge was removed from the customer's telephone or retail electric bill;  and(4)  the date action was taken to refund or credit to the customer any money that the customer paid for the unauthorized charges.(c)  The record required by Subsection (a) shall be maintained for at least 24 months following the completion of all steps required by Section 17.152(a).|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.154 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.154. Notice

Sec. 17.154.  NOTICE.  (a)  A billing utility shall provide notice of a customer's rights under this section in the manner prescribed by the commission.(b)  Notice of a customer's rights must be provided by mail to each residential and retail business customer within 60 days of the effective date of this section or by inclusion in the publication of the telephone directory next following the effective date of this section.  In addition, each billing utility shall send the notice to new customers at the time service is initiated or to any customer at that customer's request.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.155 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.155. Providing Copy of Records

Sec. 17.155.  PROVIDING COPY OF RECORDS.  A billing utility shall provide a copy of records maintained under Sections 17.151(c), 17.152, and 17.154 to the commission staff on request.  A service provider shall provide a copy of records maintained under Sections 17.151(b) and 17.153 to the commission on request.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.156 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.156. Violations

Sec. 17.156.  VIOLATIONS.  (a)  If the commission finds that a billing utility violated this subchapter, the commission may implement penalties and other enforcement actions under Chapter 15.(b)  If the commission finds that any other service provider or billing agent subject to this subchapter has violated this subchapter or has knowingly provided false information to the commission on matters subject to this subchapter, the commission may enforce the provisions of Chapter 15 against the service provider or billing agent as if it were regulated by the commission.(c)  Neither the authority granted under this section nor any other provision of this subchapter shall be construed to grant the commission jurisdiction to regulate service providers or billing agents who are not otherwise subject to commission regulation, other than as specifically provided by this chapter.(d)  If the commission finds that a billing utility or service provider repeatedly violates this subchapter, the commission may, if the action is consistent with the public interest, suspend, restrict, or revoke the registration or certificate of the telecommunications service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility, by this action denying the telecommunications service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility the right to provide service in this state, except that the commission may not revoke a certificate of convenience and necessity of an electric utility except as provided by Section 37.059 or a certificate of convenience and necessity of a telecommunications utility except as provided by Section 54.008.(e)  If the commission finds that a service provider or billing agent has repeatedly violated any provision of this subchapter, the commission may order the billing utility to terminate billing and collection services for that service provider or billing agent.(f)  Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to preclude a billing utility from taking action on its own to terminate or restrict its billing and collection services.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.157 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.157. Disputes

Sec. 17.157.  DISPUTES.  (a)  The commission may resolve disputes between a retail customer and a billing utility, service provider, telecommunications utility, retail electric provider, or electric utility.(b)  In exercising its authority under Subsection (a), the commission may:(1)  order a billing utility, service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility to produce information or records;(2)  require that all contracts, bills, and other communications from a billing utility, service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility display a working toll-free telephone number that customers may call with complaints and inquiries;(3)  require a billing utility, service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility to refund or credit overcharges or unauthorized charges with interest if the billing utility, service provider, retail electric provider, or electric utility has failed to comply with commission rules or a contract with the customer;(4)  order appropriate relief to ensure that a customer's choice of a telecommunications service provider, a retail electric provider, or an electric utility that encompasses a geographic area in which more than one provider has been certificated is honored;(5)  require the continuation of service to a residential or small commercial customer while a dispute is pending regarding charges the customer has alleged were unauthorized;  and(6)  investigate an alleged violation.(c)  The commission shall adopt procedures for the resolution of disputes in a timely manner, which in no event shall exceed 60 days.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.158 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter D. Protection Against Unauthorized Charges|Section 17.158. Consistency With Federal Law

Sec. 17.158.  CONSISTENCY WITH FEDERAL LAW.  Rules adopted by the commission under this subchapter shall be consistent with and not more burdensome than applicable federal laws and rules.|Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1579, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.|
TX Util § 17.201 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Utilities Code|Title 2 - Public Utility Regulatory Act|Subtitle A - Provisions Applicable to All Utilities|Chapter 17 - Customer Protection|Subchapter E. Protection Against Utility Service Disconnection|Section 17.201. Definition

Sec. 17.201.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "nonsubmetered master metered multifamily property" means an apartment, a leased or owner-occupied condominium, or one or more buildings containing at least 10 dwellings that receive electric utility service that is master metered but not submetered.|Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 322 (H.B. 1772), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2014.|