Texas Utilities Code - Section 13.003. Office Powers And Duties
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§ 13.003. OFFICE POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The office:
(1) shall assess the effect of utility rate changes
and other regulatory actions on residential consumers in this
state;
(2) shall advocate in the office's own name a position
determined by the counsellor to be most advantageous to a
substantial number of residential consumers;
(3) may appear or intervene, as a party or otherwise,
as a matter of right on behalf of:
(A) residential consumers, as a class, in any
proceeding before the commission, including an alternative dispute
resolution proceeding; and
(B) small commercial consumers, as a class, in
any proceeding in which the counsellor determines that small
commercial consumers are in need of representation, including an
alternative dispute resolution proceeding;
(4) may initiate or intervene as a matter of right or
otherwise appear in a judicial proceeding:
(A) that involves an action taken by an
administrative agency in a proceeding, including an alternative
dispute resolution proceeding, in which the counsellor is
authorized to appear; or
(B) in which the counsellor determines that
residential electricity consumers or small commercial electricity
consumers are in need of representation;
(5) is entitled to the same access as a party, other
than commission staff, to records gathered by the commission under
Section 14.204;
(6) is entitled to discovery of any nonprivileged
matter that is relevant to the subject matter of a proceeding or
petition before the commission;
(7) may represent an individual residential or small
commercial consumer with respect to the consumer's disputed
complaint concerning utility services that is unresolved before the
commission; and
(8) may recommend legislation to the legislature that
the office determines would positively affect the interests of
residential and small commercial consumers.
(b) This section does not limit the authority of the
commission to represent residential or small commercial consumers.
(c) The appearance of the counsellor in a proceeding does
not preclude the appearance of other parties on behalf of
residential or small commercial consumers. The counsellor may not
be grouped with any other party.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, § 1, eff. Sept 1, 1997. Amended by
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 405, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Section: 12.251 12.252 12.253 12.254 12.255 13.001 13.002 13.003 13.004 13.005 13.006 13.007 13.021 13.022 13.023
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Last modified: August 10, 2007
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