The COVID Project
The record
- Jurisdiction
- Texas (State public utility commission) · Texas
- Level
- Sector regulator
- Authority
- 16 TAC 22.5(a); 16 TAC 25.480(j)(1)(B), 25.498(i)(1)(B)
- Issued
- 2020-03-26 Mar. 26, 2020
- Effective
- 2020-03-26
- End
- By its terms 'until the Governor's disaster declaration is terminated'; narrowed and re-dated by the Second Order of April 17, 2020 (exceptions to May 15, 2020, residential customers), the Third Order of May 14, 2020 (to June 13, 2020) and the Fourth Order of July 16, 2020 (electric disconnection exception to August 31, 2020, Ex. 019) (read as 2020-04-17)
- In force
- Mar. 26, 2020 to Apr. 17, 2020
- Quarters
- 2020 Q22020 Q3
2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3
- Limitation types
- Other
- Addressees
- all retail electric providers
- retail public water and sewer utilities under 16 TAC ch. 24
- electric utilities outside customer-choice areas under 16 TAC 25.28-25.29
- Functions reached
- OP billing and collections of every REP, water, sewer and electric utility (late fees, deferred-payment interest and estimated-bill rules suspended; mandatory deferred payment plans)
- SV disconnection for nonpayment suspended (rule authority withdrawn)
- CB customers
- OF tariff and rule compliance
- Collection
- State utilities, housing and agriculture agencies AGY-ST-UTILITIES-HOUSING-AG
Operative words
Accordingly, it is ordered that, until the Governor's disaster declaration is terminated, 1. All retail electric providers must offer a deferred payment plan to customers, upon request. 2. Exceptions are granted to the following water and sewer rules: 16 TAC 24.165(c), which relates to assessment of late fees on customers for delinquent bills; 16 TAC 24.165(d), which authorizes a water utility to charge interest on a deferred payment plan; 16 TAC 24.165(i), which relates to requirements for estimated bills; 16 TAC 24.167(a)(2)(A), which allows a retail public utility to disconnect water or sewer service for nonpayment; 16 TAC 24.167(a)(2)(F), which authorizes a utility to disconnect water service for non-payment of a solid waste charge; and 16 TAC 24.167(e), which requires a retail public utility to disconnect water service for nonpayment of sewer charges. 3. Exceptions are granted to the following electric rules: 16 TAC 25.28(b), which relates to assessment of late fees on customers for delinquent bills; 16 TAC 25.29(b)(1), which allows an electric utility to disconnect electric service for nonpayment; and 16 TAC 25.480(c), which relates to assessment of late fees on customers for delinquent bills.
Enforcement
Tex. Util. Code 15.023 (administrative penalties for violation of Commission orders and rules); the order finds 'a public emergency and imperative public necessity' under 16 TAC 22.5(a)
Notes
Companion to the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program order of the same date (Ex. 017). The Commission had on March 16, 2020 issued an Order Suspending Rules requiring all filings to be made electronically through the Interchange until the disaster declaration ends (Project 50664 item 3, read, not saved).
Retrieval noteProject 50664 item 106.