More and more utility services are being submetered, or
allocated by a formula. There are special rules a landlord
must follow that are issued by the following state
agencies: Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates
electricity, and the Texas Naturual Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) regulates water. Each agency has the
same basic rules regarding utility submetering and
mastermetering. The landlord must issue written bills
showing usage and rates, and give the tenant a minimum
number of days to pay a bill.
However, a landlord may only shutoff the a utility service
for nonpayment of the bill after proper notice. A landlord
may not shutoff wastewater or gas service for nonpayment of
the utility bill (although the landlord may have other
remedies, including terminating the lease agreement and
filing for eviction).
Continue on to electrical submetering/allocation.
Continue on to water submetering/allocation.