By: Perry  S.B. No. 1171
       (In the Senate - Filed February 23, 2023; March 9, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on Business & Commerce;
April 26, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 11,
Nays 0; April 26, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
 
relating to the disclosure of customer information by
government-operated utilities.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 182.054, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 182.054.  EXCEPTIONS.  This subchapter does not
prohibit a government-operated utility from disclosing personal
information in a customer's account record to:
             (1)  an official or employee of the state, a political
subdivision of the state, or the United States acting in an official
capacity;
             (2)  an employee of a utility acting in connection with
the employee's duties;
             (3)  a consumer reporting agency;
             (4)  a contractor or subcontractor approved by and
providing services to the utility, the state, a political
subdivision of the state, or the United States;
             (5)  a person for whom the customer has contractually
waived confidentiality for personal information; [or]
             (6)  another entity that provides water, wastewater,
sewer, gas, garbage, electricity, or drainage service for
compensation;
             (7)  another entity as necessary to facilitate the
transition of customers among retail electric providers under
Section 40.053 or to comply with rules, guidelines, and procedures
established by an independent organization certified under Section
39.151; or
             (8)  a retail electric provider, as defined by Section
31.002(17).
       SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
* * * * *

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Utilities Code 182.054 (Utilities Code 182)
Senate Committee Report: Utilities Code 182.054 (Utilities Code 182)