Utility customers in Texas over the age of 60 can ask for a later due date, skip late fees

If a Texas utility bill arrives before a Social Security deposit does, Texas law lets qualifying utility customers age 60 or older ask their provider to shift the due date without being hit with a late charge.

Here's what to know

Low Income Relief reported that Chapter 182 of the Texas Utilities Code lets qualifying residential customers age 60 and up push back a utility bill's due date. Once requested, the no-penalty window lasts until the 25th day after the bill was issued, which can make it easier to match payment timing with Social Security, pension income, or other monthly deposits.

Use of this rule does not depend on income. A customer does not have to be eligible for SSI, Social Security retirement, or any other aid program to request it.

In addition to being of qualifying age, the customer must occupy the property listed on the bill. A utility can require proof of age, such as a driver's license or similar ID.

More background

Depending on the provider, this protection can cover certain electric, gas, water, and telephone service bills. It may also cover city-owned utilities, such as municipal water systems or local power providers, according to Low Income Relief.

The law is also more flexible than a one-time hardship arrangement. Under Section 182.003, eligible customers can request an extension for only the most recent bill, or for that bill and all subsequent bills. That ongoing option may be especially helpful for people whose income arrives on a predictable monthly schedule.

Not every utility must follow the delayed payment rule, but the exemption is limited. Section 182.005 says a utility is exempt only if it does not charge residential late fees, does not suspend service before the 26th day after issuance, and falls under the Texas Public Utility Regulatory Act.

A provider cannot automatically reject the request simply because it already waits some time before disconnecting service. Some utilities, including CPS Energy in San Antonio, maintain formal senior billing arrangements that may offer even more time to pay.

What can be done?

Eligible Texans should first contact the utility company's customer service department and ask about the delayed payment option under Texas Utilities Code Chapter 182. Customers can also request that the protection apply not only to the current bill but also to future bills.

Before adjusting the due date, some utilities may require paperwork, like an application or proof of age.

Customers should also ask for written proof of the new payment deadline. The extension is calculated from the bill's issue date, not 25 days after the utility's original due date.

The policy has limits. Chapter 182 does not reduce or erase charges, remove late fees that were already applied, or prevent utilities from being disconnected after the extended deadline.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.