Sec. 13.137. OFFICE AND OTHER BUSINESS LOCATIONS OF UTILITY; RECORDS; REMOVAL FROM STATE. (a) Every utility shall:
(1) make available and notify its customers of a business location where its customers may make payments to prevent disconnection of or to restore service:
(A) in each county in which the utility provides service; or
(B) not more than 20 miles from the residence of any residential customer if there is no location to receive payments in the county; and
(2) have an office in a county of this state or in the immediate area in which its property or some part of its property is located in which it shall keep all books, accounts, records, and memoranda required by the utility commission to be kept in this state.
(b) The utility commission by rule may provide for waiving the requirements of Subsection (a)(1) for a utility for which meeting those requirements would cause a rate increase or otherwise harm or inconvenience customers. The rules must provide for an additional 14 days to be given for a customer to pay before a utility that is granted a waiver may disconnect service for late payment.
(c) Books, accounts, records, or memoranda required by the regulatory authority to be kept in the state may not be removed from the state, except on conditions prescribed by the utility commission.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 795, Sec. 3.005, eff. Sept. 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 567, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 966, Sec. 10.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 170 (H.B. 1600), Sec. 2.27, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 171 (S.B. 567), Sec. 27, eff. September 1, 2013.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 2 - Water Administration
Chapter 13 - Water Rates and Services
Subchapter E. Records, Reports, Inspections, Rates, and Services
Section 13.131. Records of Utility; Rates, Methods, and Accounts
Section 13.132. Powers of Utility Commission
Section 13.1325. Electronic Copies of Rate Information
Section 13.134. Report of Advertising or Public Relations Expenses
Section 13.135. Unlawful Rates, Rules, and Regulations
Section 13.136. Filing Tariffs of Rates, Rules, and Regulations; Annual Financial Report
Section 13.137. Office and Other Business Locations of Utility; Records; Removal From State
Section 13.138. Communications by Utilities With Regulatory Authority; Regulations and Records
Section 13.139. Standards of Service
Section 13.1394. Standards of Emergency Operations
Section 13.1395. Standards of Emergency Operations in Certain Counties
Section 13.1396. Coordination of Emergency Operations
Section 13.140. Examination and Test of Equipment
Section 13.141. Billing for Service to State
Section 13.142. Time of Payment of Utility Bills by State
Section 13.143. Voluntary Contributions
Section 13.144. Notice of Wholesale Water Supply Contract
Section 13.145. Multiple Systems Consolidated Under Tariff
Section 13.146. Water Conservation Plan
Section 13.1461. Correctional Facility Compliance With Conservation Measures
Section 13.147. Consolidated Billing and Collection Contracts
Section 13.148. Water Shortage Report
Section 13.149. Notification of Water Loss
Section 13.150. Reports Required for Water and Sewer Utilities
Section 13.151. Billing for Services Provided During Extreme Weather Emergency