HB1606 - Relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission or distribution line.

      H.B. No. 1606         AN ACT   relating to notice provided to a retail electric customer of the   procedure for requesting vegetation management near a transmission   or distribution line.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 17.003, Utilities Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (d-1) and adding Subsection (d-2) to read as   follows:          (d-1)  An electric utility providing electric delivery   service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section   31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the   retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail   electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to   the customers, information about:                (1)  the electric utility's procedures for implementing   involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent   organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power   region;                (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 ; and                 (5)     the procedure for a customer to request vegetation   management near a transmission or distribution line .           (d-2)     A retail electric utility shall periodically provide   with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information   about the procedure for a customer to request vegetation management   near a transmission or distribution line.          SECTION 2.  Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (f)  A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide   with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information   about:                (1)  the utility'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 ; and                 (5)     the procedure for a customer to request vegetation   management near a transmission or distribution line .          SECTION 3.  Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (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 ; and                 (5)     the procedure for a customer to request vegetation   management near a transmission or distribution line .          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 1606 was passed by the House on April   25, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 127, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 1606 was passed by the Senate on May   25, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor