LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 18, 2009 TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2588 by Davis, Wendy (Relating to certain protections for customers in the restructured electric services market.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would establish the definition of an extreme weather emergency and the conditions under which an electric utility cannot disconnect service to residential customers. The bill would require an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 of the Utilities Code to contract with an entity selected by the Commission to act as a retail electric market monitor to detect and prevent market manipulation strategies, unfair, misleading, or deceptive practices, and to recommend measures to enhance the efficiency of the retail market. The bill would require the independent organization to use money from the rate authorized by Section 39.151(e) to pay for the retail market monitors activities. The PUC would be required to adopt rules regarding oversight of the retail market monitor, and to define the monitoring responsibilities, standards of funding, personnel qualifications, and ethical standards of the retail market monitor. The bill would amend the options the PUC has to address violations and market power to include ordering refunds to affected parties. The bill would also require the PUC to permit the Office of Public Utility Counsel to participate in enforcement proceedings regarding alleged market power abuses or manipulation. The bill would require the PUC to post on its Power-to-Choose website the prices of natural gas, real-time balancing energy, and retail electricity, and to update this information daily. The PUC would be required to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill. The PUC indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: JOB, JRO, ES, KJG
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 18, 2009
TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB2588 by Davis, Wendy (Relating to certain protections for customers in the restructured electric services market.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB2588 by Davis, Wendy (Relating to certain protections for customers in the restructured electric services market.), As Introduced
Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB2588 by Davis, Wendy (Relating to certain protections for customers in the restructured electric services market.), As Introduced
SB2588 by Davis, Wendy (Relating to certain protections for customers in the restructured electric services market.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would establish the definition of an extreme weather emergency and the conditions under which an electric utility cannot disconnect service to residential customers. The bill would require an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 of the Utilities Code to contract with an entity selected by the Commission to act as a retail electric market monitor to detect and prevent market manipulation strategies, unfair, misleading, or deceptive practices, and to recommend measures to enhance the efficiency of the retail market. The bill would require the independent organization to use money from the rate authorized by Section 39.151(e) to pay for the retail market monitors activities. The PUC would be required to adopt rules regarding oversight of the retail market monitor, and to define the monitoring responsibilities, standards of funding, personnel qualifications, and ethical standards of the retail market monitor. The bill would amend the options the PUC has to address violations and market power to include ordering refunds to affected parties. The bill would also require the PUC to permit the Office of Public Utility Counsel to participate in enforcement proceedings regarding alleged market power abuses or manipulation. The bill would require the PUC to post on its Power-to-Choose website the prices of natural gas, real-time balancing energy, and retail electricity, and to update this information daily. The PUC would be required to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill. The PUC indicates that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed within the agency's existing resources.
The bill would establish the definition of an extreme weather emergency and the conditions under which an electric utility cannot disconnect service to residential customers.
The bill would require an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 of the Utilities Code to contract with an entity selected by the Commission to act as a retail electric market monitor to detect and prevent market manipulation strategies, unfair, misleading, or deceptive practices, and to recommend measures to enhance the efficiency of the retail market. The bill would require the independent organization to use money from the rate authorized by Section 39.151(e) to pay for the retail market monitors activities. The PUC would be required to adopt rules regarding oversight of the retail market monitor, and to define the monitoring responsibilities, standards of funding, personnel qualifications, and ethical standards of the retail market monitor.
The bill would amend the options the PUC has to address violations and market power to include ordering refunds to affected parties. The bill would also require the PUC to permit the Office of Public Utility Counsel to participate in enforcement proceedings regarding alleged market power abuses or manipulation.
The bill would require the PUC to post on its Power-to-Choose website the prices of natural gas, real-time balancing energy, and retail electricity, and to update this information daily.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas
473 Public Utility Commission of Texas
LBB Staff: JOB, JRO, ES, KJG
JOB, JRO, ES, KJG