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SB 271

Relating to the eligibility of certain retail electric customers for designation as critical care residential customers.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Carol Alvarado and 4 co-sponsors

SB 271 expands Texas electric utility protections for medically vulnerable residential customers dependent on electricity-powered life-sustaining equipment.

Referred to Business & Commerce
#aging(i0015) #disabilities #personswith(i0380) #disasterpreparedness&relief(i0211) #utilities--electric(i0831)
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Bill Summary · SB 271

Legislative bill overview

SB 271 expands the definition of "critical care residential customers" in Texas's electric utility regulations to include additional categories of residents who depend on electricity for medical or life-sustaining purposes. The bill modifies eligibility criteria that determine which customers receive protection from power disconnections during non-payment disputes or service interruptions.

Why is this important

Critical care designations provide vulnerable populations with essential service continuity guarantees—meaning their electricity cannot be shut off even during billing disputes, which can literally be life-threatening for those dependent on medical equipment like oxygen concentrators, dialysis machines, or CPAP devices. Expanding eligibility could protect more Texans relying on power-dependent medical equipment, particularly low-income households that struggle with utility costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: Determining which conditions qualify as "critical care" involves subjective medical judgments; broader definitions increase utility costs that may be passed to other ratepayers
  • Verification burden: Utilities must verify medical necessity claims, raising administrative costs and potential fraud concerns versus patient privacy issues
  • Rate impacts: Protecting more customers from disconnection may reduce utility revenue collection, potentially raising rates for non-critical-care customers or affecting grid stability planning

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

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