PUCT Staff File Proposed Prepaid Disclosure Statement Worksheet Language

PUCT Staff have proposed language for a worksheet to accompany the standard Prepaid Disclosure Statement, which is meant to inform customers of non-recurring TDU charges associated with initiating service without listing the fees on the disclosure statement itself (39357).

The worksheet was proposed by Commissioner Rolando Pablos as a means to avoid having separate Prepaid Disclosure Statements for each TDU area while still ensuring customers were adequately informed (10/13).

The worksheet would require REPs to list one of two mechanisms, depending on whether TDU fees are paid in addition to the initial connection balance, or included in the connection balance.

In both cases, the worksheet would direct customers to call the REP to obtain information for each line item on the sheet and to determine either their total due, or the account balance after application of any TDU fees.

If TDU fees are paid in addition to the cost of enrolling in service, the worksheet would provide lines as follows for the customer to fill out while speaking with their REP to determine their total due to the REP to start service:
Connection Balance: $_____
+ Utility Fee: $_____
_______________________
Total Due: $_______

If TDU fees are included in the initial connection balance and subtracted from the account balance, then the worksheet would provide the following lines for the customer to fill out while speaking with their REP to calculate their remaining balance after application of the TDU fees:
Connection Balance: $_____
- Utility Fee: $_____
_______________________
Account Balance: $_______