Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
UTILITIES CODE |
Title 2. PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATORY ACT |
Subtitle C. TELECOMMUNICATIONS UTILITIES |
Chapter 53. RATES |
Subchapter F. REGULATORY POLICY FOR SMALL INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE COMPANIES AND COOPERATIVES |
Sec. 53.252. ADOPTION OF CERTAIN POLICIES
-
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the commission shall consider and may adopt policies to:
(1) provide for evaluation of the overall reasonableness of the rates of a rural or small incumbent local exchange company or cooperative not more frequently than once every three years;
(2) permit consideration of future construction plans and operational changes in evaluating the reasonableness of the rates of a rural or small incumbent local exchange company or cooperative; or
(3) allow a rural or small incumbent local exchange company or cooperative to:
(A) provide required information by report or by other means, as necessary, including a required rate filing package, in substantially less burdensome and complex form than is required of a larger incumbent local exchange company;
(B) change depreciation and amortization rates, if customer rates are not affected, after notice to the commission, subject to commission review in a proceeding under Subchapter C or Subchapter D;
(C) adopt for a new service the rates for the same or a substantially similar service offered by a larger incumbent local exchange company, without additional cost justification; and
(D) submit to the commission, instead of a management audit otherwise required by law, policy, or rule, financial audits regularly performed by an independent auditor or required and performed as a result of the company's or cooperative's participation in a federal or state financing or revenue-sharing program.