Sec. 43.003. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "BPL," "broadband over power lines," and "BPL services" mean the provision of broadband services over electric power lines and related facilities, whether above ground or in underground conduit.

(2) "BPL access" means the ability to access broadband services via a BPL operator or BPL Internet service provider.

(3) "BPL operator" means an entity that owns or operates a BPL system on the electric power lines and related facilities of an electric utility.

(4) "BPL Internet service provider" and "BPL ISP" mean an entity that provides Internet services to others on a wholesale basis or to end-use customers on a retail basis.

(5) "BPL system" means the materials, equipment, and other facilities installed on electric utility property to facilitate the provision of BPL services.

(6) "BPL electric utility applications" means services and technologies that are used and useful and designed to improve the operational performance and service reliability of an electric utility including, but not limited to, automated meter reading, real time system monitoring and meter control, remote service control, outage detection and restoration, predictive maintenance and diagnostics, and monitoring and enhancement of power quality.

(7) "Electric delivery system" means the power lines and related transmission and distribution facilities used by an electric utility to deliver electric energy.

(8) "Electric utility" shall include an electric utility and a transmission and distribution utility as defined in Section 31.002(6) or (19).

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 5), Sec. 2, eff. September 7, 2005.