The bill, S.B. No. 483, introduces a new section, 17.011, to the Utilities Code, which focuses on the sharing and protection of proprietary customer information by retail electric providers. It defines "proprietary customer information" as identifying details about individual customers, such as their name, telephone number, email address, and home address. The bill allows electric utilities to request this information from retail electric providers when necessary for communication regarding emergencies, service interruptions, or restoration of service. Retail electric providers are required to provide this information within 48 hours of the request without needing prior customer authorization.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that electric utilities may share proprietary customer information with other parties for the same communication purposes without prior customer consent. It mandates that any entity obtaining this information must implement reasonable security practices to protect its confidentiality and may not retain the information longer than necessary. The bill clarifies that certain existing laws do not apply to violations of this section, while others do, ensuring that the handling of proprietary customer information is both secure and compliant with relevant regulations. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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