HB5145 - Relating to the sharing and protection of certain utility proprietary customer information.

  89R4122 SCR-F     By: Thompson H.B. No. 5145       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the sharing and protection of certain utility   proprietary customer information.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is   amended by adding Section 17.011 to read as follows:           Sec.   17.011.     SHARING PROPRIETARY CUSTOMER INFORMATION. (a)     In this section, "proprietary customer information" means any   identifying information compiled by a retail electric provider   about an individual customer that may be used for communication   regarding emergencies, billing, or service-related matters,   including the customer's:                 (1)  name;                 (2)  telephone number;                 (3)  e-mail address; or                 (4)  home address.           (b)     An electric utility providing electric delivery   services for a retail electric provider may request from the retail   electric provider any proprietary customer information reasonably   necessary for the electric utility to communicate with a customer   regarding an emergency affecting service, an interruption of   service, or restoration of service.   The retail electric provider   shall provide to the electric utility the proprietary customer   information not later than 48 hours after the request is made.   The   retail electric provider is not required to obtain a prior   verifiable authorization from the customer before complying with   this subsection.           (c)     Notwithstanding Section 39.157(d)(4), an electric   utility may provide the proprietary customer information to another   person without prior verifiable authorization from the customer as   necessary for communication with the customer regarding an   emergency affecting service, an interruption of service, or   restoration of service.           (d)     An electric utility or another person who obtains   proprietary customer information under this section:                 (1)     shall, for purposes of protecting the   confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of the information,   establish, implement, and maintain reasonable administrative,   technical, and physical data security practices that are   appropriate to the volume and nature of the information at issue,   including encryption and secure data storage; and                 (2)     may not retain the information for longer than   reasonably necessary to communicate with the customer regarding an   emergency affecting service, an interruption of service, or   restoration of service.           (e)     Except as provided by Subsection (f), Subchapter B,   Chapter 15, does not apply to a violation of this section.           (f)  Section 15.021 applies to a violation of this section.           (g)     This section does not affect the application of Chapter   541, Business & Commerce Code, to a person that is not an electric   utility or a retail electric provider.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.