The TCEQ is responsible for the general supervision and
oversight of districts and utilities, including the processing of
petitions to create districts and applications to approve utility
service areas. In addition, the agency maintains approval authority
over many utility matters including the review of most district
bond issues and of the rates charged by privately owned and
member-owned utilities.
Under the jurisdiction granted by the Texas Legislature in these
areas, TCEQ staff perform a variety of tasks including:
Bond Review—Evaluate the
engineering and economic feasibility of all district applications
on bond issues. This includes meeting with district staff,
customers, consultants, and board members as well as with
interested legislators.
Capacity Development—Assist with a
utility’s financial, managerial and technical (FMT)
capacities and provide technical assistance to make improvements in
these areas. A request for assistance may be submitted by using the
FMT Assistance Referral Form, which is available in three
electronic formats: (PDF file. Help with PDF), WPD and Word.
For more information, see Utility
Publications, Applications and Checklists.
Certificate of
Convenience and Necessity (Service Areas)—Review and
approve the area a utility is authorized and required to serve.
Consumer & Utility
Assistance—Assist consumers and utilities with
inquiries about customer service and protection rules. Please call
512/239-6100 or Contact us if you have
any questions.
Database—Maintain the Water Utility Database, a collection of data
from Texas water districts, public drinking water systems, water
and sewer utilities, and rental properties billing tenants for
water or sewer service. This database may be used to search for the
names of these entities, their addresses, the counties in which
they are located, applications they have filed with the TCEQ, maps
of their service areas, and other relevant information. For help
using this database, see the Water
Utility Database Web Guide.
District Creations—For more
information, see Publications, Forms,
Rules and General Information on Districts.
Plan Review—Review proposed plans
and specifications for public water systems to ensure proper
design. Click here for a list
of pending reviews, checklists, and rules related to public water
systems.
Regional Certification for Water and Sewer
Utilities—Certify “Regional Service
Providers,” which are exempt from paying sales tax on water-
and sewer-related equipment and materials. The TCEQ may provide
regional certification for water and sewer utilities that meet any
of the following criteria:
- One owner and one large system serves several different
communities or subdivisions; or
- One owner and several isolated systems each provide service to
one or more communities or subdivisions; or
- Several owners, each with individual systems operated through a
centrally coordinated operating system; or
- Several owners, each with individual systems operated through a
central wholesale provider.
Staff with the Office of the Comptroller at 800/252-5555 can
answer questions about which equipment and materials qualify as tax
exempt.
Questions about the certification process may be directed to
Utilities & Districts Section staff at 512/239-4691. A sample
letter to request certification and a list of providers already
certified are available below.
Reports—Review audit, financial,
and revenue reports submitted by districts and investor- or
privately owned utilities. The following publications and forms
contain information on reporting requirements. These are PDF
files.
- On Financial Reporting for Districts and
River Authorities:
- On the Annual Report That Each
Investor- or Privately Owned Utility Must File with
the TCEQ before April 1 of Each Year:
Revenue and Regulatory Assessment
Report—Information on the regulatory assessment
fee that investor-owned utilities, water districts, and water
supply corporations collect from their retail customers. Also the
related reporting forms.
Supervision—Monitor water district activities and
their compliance with state laws. Provide information to customers,
consultants, board members, and employees. Review applications and
petitions for appointment to district boards. For more information,
see Publications, Forms, Rules and General
Information on Districts.
Contact us if you have any
questions.
