HBA-CBW H.B. 3542 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3542 By: Turner, Sylvester State Affairs 4/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE As a way to prepare Texans for a deregulated electric market, the 76th Legislature created the system benefit fund to assist low-income families with the payment of their electric bills, to establish customer education programs, and to fund the school funding loss mechanism. However, the agency charged with implementing these programs may have to use agency funds to carry them out. House Bill 3542 allows the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel to use funds from the system benefit fund to implement and administer the programs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3542 amends the Utilities Code to allow the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel to use funds from the system benefit fund to implement and administer programs. The bill requires that PUC programs to assist low-income electric customers on the introduction of customer choice shall include the provision of grants to energy assistance providers who assist lowincome electric customers in paying their electric bills. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.