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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of integrated rate areas subject to |
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the original jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.001, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The railroad commission has exclusive original |
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jurisdiction over the rates and services of a gas utility: |
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(1) that distributes natural gas or synthetic natural |
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gas in: |
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(A) areas outside a municipality; [and] |
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(B) areas inside a municipality that surrenders |
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its jurisdiction to the railroad commission under Section 103.003; |
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and |
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(C) an integrated rate area established under |
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Subsection (c); and |
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(2) that transmits, transports, delivers, or sells |
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natural gas or synthetic natural gas to a gas utility that |
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distributes the gas to the public. |
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(c) A gas utility may identify and establish an integrated |
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rate area that includes one or more municipalities and related |
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unincorporated areas for which the railroad commission has |
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exclusive original jurisdiction to establish the gas utility's |
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rates on an area-wide basis. The integrated rate area is |
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established on the date the gas utility files notice of the area's |
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establishment with the railroad commission. The notice must define |
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the boundaries of the integrated rate area and identify each |
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municipality included in the area. The gas utility must deliver a |
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copy of the notice to each municipality included in the area. |
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(d) A notice of intent to increase rates filed under Section |
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104.103 does not constitute notice under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. Section 103.001, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 103.001. MUNICIPAL JURISDICTION. To provide fair, |
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just, and reasonable rates and adequate and efficient services, the |
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governing body of a municipality has exclusive original |
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jurisdiction over the rates, operations, and services of a gas |
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utility within the municipality, subject to the limitations imposed |
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by this subtitle, unless: |
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(1) the municipality surrenders its jurisdiction to |
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the railroad commission under Section 103.003; or |
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(2) the municipality is included in an integrated rate |
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area established under Section 102.001(c). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |