bill making utilities allow meter socket adapters

The text as introduced · 458 words

89R10416 CS-D

By: Lozano
H.B. No. 3407

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to installation and operation of meter socket adapters for

residential electric service customers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is

amended by adding Section 17.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 17.011. METER SOCKET ADAPTER. (a) In this section,

"meter socket adapter" means an electronic device that is installed

between a residential electric meter and the meter socket to

facilitate the deployment of customer-owned or customer-leased

technology.

(b) The commission by rule shall require an electric utility

to authorize the installation and operation of a meter socket

adapter by a residential electric service customer of the utility,

regardless of whether the adapter is owned by the customer or a

third party, if the adapter meets standards adopted by the

commission. In adopting the standards, the commission shall

consider:

(1) National Electrical Code requirements for

connecting a meter socket adapter to the supply side of the service

disconnect;

(2) meter socket adapters approved or listed by a

nationally recognized testing laboratory;

(3) ratings of adapters for the meter sockets into

which the adapters are intended to be installed; and

(4) certifications of meter socket adapters offered by

a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

(c) An electric utility is not required to authorize the

installation of a meter socket adapter that prevents access to the

sealed meter socket compartment or the pull section of the service

section of the electric meter or switchboard.

(d) An electric utility or a third party, including a

manufacturer of meter socket adapters, may install, maintain, and

service a meter socket adapter or associated equipment under this

section on behalf of a residential electric service customer.

(e) Not later than the 60th day after the date an electric

utility receives a request from a residential customer in the

utility's service area or a third party to approve for installation

a specific model of meter socket adapter, the utility shall approve

or deny the request.

(f) An electric utility shall publish on the utility's

website a list of each specific model of meter socket adapter the

utility has approved under Subsection (e). An electric utility

that denies a request to approve a specific model of meter socket

adapter under Subsection (e) shall provide an explanation to the

requestor providing the reason for the denial.

SECTION 2. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall

require each electric utility to modify the utility's electric

service requirements as required by Section 17.011, Utilities Code,

as added by this Act, as soon as possible after the effective date

of the rules adopted under that section.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.