06-27-18 CenterPoint - Updated Schedule of Rates

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CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORP. D/B/A CENTERPOINT ENERGY ENTEX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO NATURAL GAS SERVICE IN TEXAS FOR JURISDICTIONS FOR WHICH TARIFF IS APPROVED ON OR AFTER MAY 23,2017 24. SUSPENSION OF GAS UTILITY SERVICE DISCONNECTION DURING AN EXTREME WEATHER EMERGENCY(Effective: May 12,2002) (a) Applicability and scope. This rule applies to gas utilities, as defined in Texas Utilities Code, §101.003(7) and §121.001, and to owners, operators, and managers of mobile home parks or apartment houses who purchase natural gas through a master meter for delivery to a dwelling unit in a mobile home park or apartment house,pursuant to Texas Utilities Code, §§124.001-124.002, within the jurisdiction of the Railroad Commission pursuant to Texas Utilities Code, §102.001. For purposes of this section,all such gas utilities and owners, operators and managers of master meter systems shall be referred to as"providers."Providers shall comply with the following service standards. A gas distribution utility shall file amended service rules incorporating these standards with the Railroad Commission in the manner prescribed by law. (b) Disconnection prohibited.Except where there is a known dangerous condition or a use of natural gas service in a manner that is dangerous or unreasonably interferes with service to others, a provider shall not disconnect natural gas service to: (1) a delinquent residential customer during an extreme weather emergency. An extreme weather emergency means a day when the previous day's highest temperature did not exceed 32 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the nearest National Weather Station for the county where the customer takes service. (2) a delinquent residential customer for a billing period in which the provider receives a written pledge, letter of intent, purchase order, or other written notification from an energy assistance provider that it is forwarding sufficient payment to continue service;or (3) a delinquent residential customer on a weekend day, unless personnel or agents of the provider are available for the purpose of receiving payment or making collections and reconnecting service. (c) Payment plans.Providers shall defer collection of the full payment of bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency is over, and shall work with customers to establish a payment schedule for deferred bills as set forth in paragraph (2)(D) of§7.45 of this title,relating to Quality of Service. (d) Notice. Beginning in the September or October billing periods utilities and owners, operators,or managers of master metered systems shall give notice as follows: (1) Each utility shall provide a copy of this rule to the social services agencies that distribute funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program within the utility's service area. (2) Each utility shall provide a copy of this rule to any other social service agency of which the provider is aware that provides financial assistance to low income customers in the utility's service area.