Texas Utilities Code

§ 17.151 — REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING CHARGES

UT § 17.151Title 2. PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY ACT · Part A. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL UTILITIES · Ch. 17. CUSTOMER PROTECTION · Art. D. PROTECTION AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED CHARGES

Statute text

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(a)A service provider, retail electric provider, or billing agent may submit charges for a new product or service to be billed on a customer's telephone or retail electric bill on or after the effective date of this section only if:

(1)the service provider offering the product or service has thoroughly informed the customer of the product or service being offered, including all associated charges, and has explicitly informed the customer that the associated charges for the product or service will appear on the customer's telephone or electric bill;

(2)the customer has clearly and explicitly consented to obtain the product or service offered and to have the associated charges appear on the customer's telephone or electric bill and the consent has been verified as provided by Subsection (b);

(3)the service provider offering the product or service and any billing agent for the service provider:

(A)has provided the customer with a toll-free telephone number the customer may call and an address to which the customer may write to resolve any billing dispute and to answer questions; and

(B)has contracted with the billing utility to bill for products and services on the billing utility's bill as provided by Subsection (c); and

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Legislative history

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 648 (H.B. 1822), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2009.