SB 1309
bill for blackout notices four times a year
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the frequency of the notice provided to a retail electric customer by certain electric utilities.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Periodically becomes at least quarterly. It comes with your electric bill.
The bill changes the rule that electric companies must send customers information about rolling blackouts from "periodically" to "at least quarterly." It covers retail electric providers in deregulated areas, city-owned utilities and electric cooperatives, and the information goes out with customer bills. Customers will get notices at least four times a year about how blackouts work, who counts as critical care or critical load, how to apply for that status, and how to cut power use during blackout risk.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 14, 2025 and referred to the Senate Business & Commerce committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1309 · 2025-02-14
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the frequency of the notice provided to a retail electric customer by certain electric utilities.
WHAT IT DOES
Periodically becomes at least quarterly. It comes with your electric bill.
The bill changes the rule that electric companies must send customers information about rolling blackouts from "periodically" to "at least quarterly." It covers retail electric providers in deregulated areas, city-owned utilities and electric cooperatives, and the information goes out with customer bills. Customers will get notices at least four times a year about how blackouts work, who counts as critical care or critical load, how to apply for that status, and how to cut power use during blackout risk.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Business & Commerce
FILED UNDER
DATA CENTERS, WATER AND THE GRID
THE TEXT
…“the retail electric provider at least quarterly shall [ periodically ]”…
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill sets a firm schedule for telling grid customers about load shedding and how to qualify for critical-care protection during blackouts.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$15,000.00
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$15,000.00
- Cash
- $15,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $15,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jun 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987960, 101029944, 101057026.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC
$15,000.00
- Cash
- $15,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $15,000.00
Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Jun 5, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100987960, 101029944, 101057026.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Feb 14, 2025
02/28/2025 S Referred to Business & Commerce
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Business & Commerce · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Utilities--Electric
Utilities--General
Text
The text as introduced · 457 words
89R6272 ANG-D By: Cook, Alvarado, Kolkhorst S.B. No. 1309 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the frequency of the notice provided to a retail electric customer by certain electric utilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 17.003(d-1), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (d-1) An electric utility providing electric delivery service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section 31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the retail electric provider at least quarterly shall [ periodically ] provide to the retail electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to the customers, information about: (1) the electric utility's procedures for implementing involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region; (2) the types of customers who may be considered critical care residential customers, critical load industrial customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; (3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; and (4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented. SECTION 2. Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) A municipally owned utility at least quarterly shall [ periodically ] provide with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information about: (1) the utility's procedure for implementing involuntary load shedding; (2) the types of customers who may be considered critical care residential customers, critical load industrial customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; (3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; and (4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented. SECTION 3. Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (f) An electric cooperative at least quarterly shall [ periodically ] provide with bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information about: (1) the cooperative's procedure for implementing involuntary load shedding; (2) the types of customers who may be considered critical care residential customers, critical load industrial customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; (3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules adopted under Section 38.076; and (4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary load shedding events may be implemented. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.