Service and Extensions by Public Utility Concerns.

Houston City Charter, art. II, § 6-A

in effect

Section 6-A. - Service and Extensions by Public Utility Concerns. The City of Houston shall also have power by ordinance to prescribe the character, quality and efficiency of service to be rendered, given, performed and furnished, and the kind and design of material to be used in all their improvements by persons, firms, corporations, assignees, trustees or receivers engaged in the business of furnishing water, gas, electric lights, telephone service or in the transportation of passengers, or freight and baggage, or in the operation of any public utility of any kind operated under franchise from the City of Houston, and the improvement of their service in a manner necessary or required for the public comfort and convenience, and to make improvements and betterments of their property. The City of Houston shall also have the power to regulate the extensions of the lines or service of any public utility operated under franchise from the City of Houston, and shall have the authority by ordinance to require, prohibit or otherwise regulate such extensions of lines or service, and the City Council may of its own motion, and shall at the request of any person, firm, or corporation affected by any such proposed extension make provision for a hearing for the purpose of determining the reasonableness thereof and public necessity therefor. All such hearings shall be conducted under such provisions as the City Council may prescribe. Nothing herein shall prevent the City Council from making general rules and regulations for the extension of lines or service. The City Council shall have power to enforce all ordinances passed under the authority hereof by appropriate provisions, penal or otherwise, including the repeal or forfeiture of any of said franchises for noncompliance with the provisions of any ordinance passed by authority hereof. (Added by amendment October 15, 1913)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ARTIICOGEPO_S6-ASEEXPUUTCOFetched: 10/26/2026