Sec. 39.106.  PROVIDER OF LAST RESORT.  (a)  The commission shall designate retail electric providers in areas of the state in which customer choice is in effect to serve as providers of last resort.
(b)  A provider of last resort shall offer a standard retail service package for each class of customers designated by the commission at a fixed, nondiscountable rate approved by the commission.
(c)  A provider of last resort shall provide the standard retail service package to any requesting customer in the territory for which it is the provider of last resort.
(d)  The commission shall designate the provider or providers of last resort not later than June 1, 2001.
(e)  The commission shall determine the procedures and criteria, which may include the solicitation of bids, for designating a provider or providers of last resort.  The commission may redesignate the provider of last resort according to a schedule it considers appropriate.
(f)  In the event that no retail electric provider applies to be the provider of last resort for a given area of the state on reasonable terms and conditions, the commission may require a retail electric provider to become the provider of last resort as a condition of receiving or maintaining a certificate under Section 39.352.
(g)  In the event that a retail electric provider fails to serve any or all of its customers, the provider of last resort shall offer that customer the standard retail service package for that customer class with no interruption of service to any customer.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 405, Sec. 39, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.