Extreme Weather Emergency Rule Compliance
Texas law requires retail public water and sewer utilities to protect customers during extreme cold weather events. Under 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) § 24.173, utilities must change certain billing and disconnection practices when an extreme weather emergency is declared.
Who Must Comply?
Investor-owned water and sewer utilities (IOUs) must comply with this rule. Municipalities, districts, and non-profit water supply corporations are not legally obligated to follow the rule, but many voluntarily adopt these protections.
What Is an Extreme Weather Emergency?
An extreme weather emergency is declared when the previous day’s high temperature is 28°F or below, and the forecast predicts similar conditions for the next 24 hours.
Utility Responsibility During an Emergency
Utilities may not disconnect service or charge late fees for bills due during the emergency period. Customers have 30 days after the emergency ends to request a payment plan, and utilities must grant the request.
JOIN US! Free IOU Workshop on PUCT Compliance
The PUCT is offering free, hands-on training for small and rural Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs). The goal of the workshops is to strengthen the financial recordkeeping and bookkeeping practices of IOU operators, owners, managers, and anyone involved in utility management. The April workshop will be held in Kerrville, TX, on April 22, 2026. Registration and more information will be available on the PUCT's Faucet Facts website in February.
Recent Chapter 24 Rule Changes
To stay current on rule changes affecting your utility, review these recent PUCT projects and rulemakings in 16 TAC Chapter 24.
16 TAC section(s) updated Rule change updates
§§ 24.101, 24.239, 24.240, 24.243, 24.357, 24.363 Expedited Sale/Transfer/Merger (STM) process:
Establishes/updates an expedited process for certain water utility sales, transfers, and mergers, including filing expectations and review steps.
§ 24.233 CCN application contents & standards in a city’s ETJ: Clarifies what must be included in Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) applications and how CCN standards apply for water/sewer utilities serving areas within a municipality’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).
§ 24.167 Discontinuance of Service:
Updates the Chapter 24 requirements for when and how a utility may discontinue service, including key process/notice expectations.
Critical Facilities Updates
01/01/2026
10/22/2025
10/01/2025
Texas Water Code § 13.1394 requires affected utilities to file annual updates on critical facilities with the PUCT. An affected utility is a retail public or exempt utility, or provider or conveyor of potable or raw water service that supplies service to more than one customer and is not in Fort Bend or Harris Counties.
What to include:
• A list of all water and sewer systems owned.
• Assumed business names (also known as “doing business as” or “dba”).
• A description and location of facilities qualifying for critical load status.
• Emergency contact phone number and address (primary and alternate).
Who receives these updates?
The PUCT, transmission and distribution service providers, retail electric providers, county emergency management offices where your utility has water or sewer facilities, and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. If no changes, file an update stating everything is current. The PUCT project for filing calendar year 2026 updates is Project No. 59153.
Join the Conversation
We value your input! This newsletter is about sharing information and creating a dialogue. If you have questions, feedback, or topics you’d like to see covered, we encourage you to reach out.
DUO is committed to helping retail public water and sewer utilities understand, navigate, and achieve regulatory compliance with the PUCT.
DUO@puc.texas.gov
