The bill, H.B. No. 5145, introduces new provisions regarding the sharing and protection of proprietary customer information by retail electric providers and electric utilities in Texas. It defines "proprietary customer information" to include identifying details such as a customer's name, telephone number, email address, and home address. The bill allows electric utilities to request this information from retail electric providers without needing prior customer authorization, specifically for communication related to emergencies, service interruptions, or restoration of service. The retail electric provider is required to provide the requested information within 48 hours.

Additionally, the bill mandates that any entity obtaining proprietary customer information must implement reasonable security practices to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the data. It also stipulates that such information cannot be retained longer than necessary for the intended communication purposes. The bill clarifies that violations of this section are subject to specific provisions under Section 15.021, while also ensuring that the application of Chapter 541 of the Business & Commerce Code remains unaffected for entities that are not electric utilities or retail electric providers. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()