Sec. 13.147. CONSOLIDATED BILLING AND COLLECTION CONTRACTS. (a) A retail public utility providing water service may contract with a retail public utility providing sewer service to bill and collect the sewer service provider's fees and payments as part of a consolidated process with the billing and collection of the water service provider's fees and payments. The water service provider may provide that service only for customers who are served by both providers in an area covered by both providers' certificates of public convenience and necessity. If the water service provider refuses to enter into a contract under this section or if the water service provider and sewer service provider cannot agree on the terms of a contract, the sewer service provider may petition the utility commission to issue an order requiring the water service provider to provide that service.
(b) A contract or order under this section must provide procedures and deadlines for submitting billing and customer information to the water service provider and for the delivery of collected fees and payments to the sewer service provider.
(c) A contract or order under this section may require or permit a water service provider that provides consolidated billing and collection of fees and payments to:
(1) terminate the water services of a person whose sewage services account is in arrears for nonpayment; and
(2) charge a customer a reconnection fee if the customer's water service is terminated for nonpayment of the customer's sewage services account.
(d) A water service provider that provides consolidated billing and collection of fees and payments may impose on each sewer service provider customer a reasonable fee to recover costs associated with providing consolidated billing and collection of fees and payments for sewage services.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1430 (S.B. 3), Sec. 2.06, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 170 (H.B. 1600), Sec. 2.33, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 171 (S.B. 567), Sec. 33, 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