Texas Administrative Code › Title 16 - ECONOMIC REGULATION › Part 2 - PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS › Chapter 25 - SUBSTANTIVE RULES APPLICABLE TO ELECTRIC SERVICE PROVIDERS › Subchapter B - CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PROTECTION › Section 25.22 - Request for Service

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
Every electric utility shall initiate service to each
					 qualified applicant for service within its certificated area in accordance with
					 this section.
(1) Applications for new
				  electric service not involving line extensions or construction of new
				  facilities shall be filled within seven working days after the applicant has
				  met the credit requirements as provided for in §
										RSA
				  25.24 of this title (relating to Credit
				  Requirements and Deposits) and complied with all applicable state and municipal
				  regulations.
(2) An electric
				  utility may require a residential applicant for service to satisfactorily
				  establish credit in accordance with §
										RSA
				  25.24 of this title (relating to Credit
				  Requirements and Deposits), but such establishment of credit shall not relieve
				  the customer from complying with rules for prompt payment of bills.
(3) Requests for new residential service
				  requiring construction, such as line extensions, shall be completed within 90
				  days or within a time period agreed to by the customer and electric utility if
				  the applicant has met the credit requirements as provided for in §
										RSA
				  25.24 of this title; and made satisfactory
				  payment arrangements for construction charges; and has complied with all
				  applicable state and municipal regulations. For this section, facility
				  placement which requires a permit for a road or railroad crossing will be
				  considered a line extension.
(4) If
				  facilities must be constructed, then the electric utility shall contact the
				  customer within ten working days of receipt of the application, and give the
				  customer an estimated completion date and an estimated cost for all charges to
				  be incurred by the customer.
(5)
				  The electric utility shall explain any construction cost options such as
				  rebates to the customer, sharing of construction costs between the electric
				  utility and the customer, or sharing of costs between the customer and other
				  applicants following the assessment of necessary line work.
(6) Unless the delay is beyond the reasonable
				  control of the electric utility, a delay of more than 90 days shall constitute
				  failure to serve, unless the customer and electric utility have agreed to a
				  longer term. The commission may revoke or amend an electric utility's
				  certificate of convenience and necessity (or other certificate) for such
				  failures to serve, or grant the certificate to another electric utility to
				  serve the applicant, and the electric utility may be subject to administrative
				  penalties pursuant to the Public Utility Regulatory Act §15.023 and
				  §15.024.
(7) If an electric
				  utility must provide a line extension to or on the customer's premises and the
				  utility will require that customer to pay a Contribution in Aid to Construction
				  (CIAC), a prepayment, or sign a contract with a term of one year or longer, the
				  electric utility shall provide the customer with information about on-site
				  renewable energy and distributed generation technology alternatives. The
				  information shall comply with guidelines established by the commission, and
				  shall be provided to the customer at the time the estimate of the CIAC or
				  prepayment is given to the customer. If no CIAC or prepayment is required, the
				  information shall be given to the customer before a contract is signed. The
				  information is intended to educate the customer on alternate options that are
				  available.
(8) As part of their
				  initial contact, electric utility employees shall give the applicant a copy of
				  the "Your Rights as a Customer" brochure, and inform an applicant of the right
				  to file a complaint with the commission pursuant to §
										RSA 25.30
				  of this title (relating to complaints) if the applicant thinks the applicant
				  has been treated unfairly.