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Bill

SB 426

Relating to a report by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on disconnections of residential retail electric service.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Chuy Hinojosa

Texas PUC must report on residential electric disconnections, including frequency, demographics, and reasons, to assess impacts on vulnerable populations.

Referred to Business & Commerce
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Bill Summary · SB 426

Legislative bill overview

SB 426 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to produce a comprehensive report on residential electric service disconnections, including data on frequency, demographics of affected customers, and reasons for disconnection. The bill mandates analysis of disconnection patterns and their impacts on vulnerable populations across Texas's deregulated energy market.

Why is this important

Utility disconnections directly affect household access to essential services, with particular consequences for low-income families, elderly residents, and those with medical needs. This reporting requirement would provide policymakers with concrete data to evaluate whether current disconnection practices are equitable and to identify whether protections for vulnerable customers are adequate.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory burden: The PUC and utility companies may argue the reporting requirement creates administrative costs without clear legislative follow-up on how findings will be used
  • Deregulation vs. regulation tension: Some stakeholders view disconnection data reporting as a step toward stricter regulation of the competitive market, while others see it as necessary consumer protection oversight
  • Data privacy concerns: Collecting demographic data on disconnected customers raises questions about personal information handling and whether such granular analysis is necessary

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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