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Do not fill this in! ===Consumer protections=== [[File:Rebuilding a Smarter City- Lessons From Houston (32997671758).jpg|thumb|Turner discussing Houston's path to becoming a smart city at an event by [[New America (organization)|New America]] in January 2019.]] In 1999, Turner voted to restructure the electric utility industry in Texas to allow customers competition and [[consumer choice]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/76r/pdf/day78.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106230804/http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/76r/pdf/day78.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2009|title=Texas House Journal}}</ref> During his time in the legislature, he also worked to continue to protect Texans, voting for bills preventing gas companies from cutting off service during freezing temperatures,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/77r/pdf/day71.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106234510/http://www.journals.house.state.tx.us/hjrnl/77r/pdf/day71.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 6, 2009|title=Texas House Journal}}</ref> limiting the amount utility companies could raise rates in order to fund certain projects, such as building electric poles and wires, without first getting approval from state regulators,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Galbraith|first1=Kate|title=Bill helps utilities increase rates|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18052249|website=Downtown El Paso}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and authoring legislation that required the Public Utility Commission to conduct cost-benefit analyses of any proposals from utility companies that would add more than $100 million to annual consumer electricity costs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pickrell|first1=Emily|title=Bill would force agency to consider consumer power costs|date=March 20, 2013|url=http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Bill-would-force-agency-to-consider-consumer-4368524.php}}</ref> During the 84th session, Turner authored legislation that would prohibit electricity companies from charging customers "minimum usage fees" when they used too little electricity.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Malewitz|first1=Jim|title=Legislation Would Ban Fees for Conserving Electricity|date=April 2, 2015|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/04/02/legislation-would-ban-fees-conserving-electricity/}}</ref> Turner also voted to allow the Public Utility Commission to issue emergency cease-and-desist orders, without first going to a court, to companies whose actions threaten the state's electricity supply.<ref>{{cite web|title=House gives utility commission emergency powers|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/house-gives-utility-commission-emergency-powers/nWyfS/|website=Statesman|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709142422/http://www.statesman.com/news/business/house-gives-utility-commission-emergency-powers/nWyfS/|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 83rd session, he joined a campaign to encourage low-income Texans to enroll in "LITE-UP Texas", a program "authorized by the Texas Legislature through which participants could reduce the monthly cost of electric service by 82%."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Turner|first1=Sylvester|title=Rep. Sylvester Turner urge low-income Texans to enroll in state electricity discount program|url=http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/member/press-releases/?id=4643&session=83&district=139&bill_code=4685|website=Texas House of Representatives|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709172859/http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/member/press-releases/?id=4643&session=83&district=139&bill_code=4685|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 84th session, he authored a bill to extend this discount program for another two years, until the end of 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Osborne|first1=James|title=Electricity assistance for low-income Texans close to reprieve|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20150605-electricity-assistance-for-low-income-texans-close-to-reprieve.ece|website=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=July 8, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709130017/http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20150605-electricity-assistance-for-low-income-texans-close-to-reprieve.ece|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also co-authored a bill to help ensure persons living in multi-family residences are alerted when their electricity bill has not been paid.<ref>{{cite web|last1=George|first1=Cindy|title=New laws provide more protections for Texas tenants|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/advocate/article/New-laws-provide-more-protections-for-Texas-5133242.php|website=Houston Chronicle|date=January 11, 2014}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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