(a) The board of directors of an electric cooperative or the governing body of a municipally owned utility may establish a bill payment assistance program for a customer who is a military veteran who a medical doctor certifies has a significantly decreased ability to regulate the individual's body temperature because of severe burns received in combat.
(b) The costs of a bill payment assistance program established under Subsection (a) are considered a necessary operations expense.
(c) The board of directors of an electric cooperative or the governing body of a municipally owned utility may determine the method to fund a bill payment assistance program established under Subsection (a).