LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 4, 2011 TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2264 by Ritter (Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding an electric utility's membership in or control by a regional transmission organization or independent system operator and to participate in certain proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding an electric utility's membership in a power region, regional transmission organization, or independent system operator.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Utilities Code to allow the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to order certain electric utilities to interact with, join, or submit to the operation control of a regional transmission organization or independent system operator. The bill would also allow the PUC to engage any consultant, accountant, auditor, engineer or attorney that the commission considers necessary to assist the PUC in a proceeding before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for certain proceedings. The bill would require electric utilities to reimburse the PUC for reasonable costs of such persons. Based on the analysis of the PUC and the Office of the Attorney General, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: JOB, KJG, MW, RAN, AG LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 82ND LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION April 4, 2011 TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2264 by Ritter (Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding an electric utility's membership in or control by a regional transmission organization or independent system operator and to participate in certain proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding an electric utility's membership in a power region, regional transmission organization, or independent system operator.), As Introduced TO: Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs FROM: John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2264 by Ritter (Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding an electric utility's membership in or control by a regional transmission organization or independent system operator and to participate in certain proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding an electric utility's membership in a power region, regional transmission organization, or independent system operator.), As Introduced Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board HB2264 by Ritter (Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding an electric utility's membership in or control by a regional transmission organization or independent system operator and to participate in certain proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding an electric utility's membership in a power region, regional transmission organization, or independent system operator.), As Introduced HB2264 by Ritter (Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding an electric utility's membership in or control by a regional transmission organization or independent system operator and to participate in certain proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding an electric utility's membership in a power region, regional transmission organization, or independent system operator.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would amend the Utilities Code to allow the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to order certain electric utilities to interact with, join, or submit to the operation control of a regional transmission organization or independent system operator. The bill would also allow the PUC to engage any consultant, accountant, auditor, engineer or attorney that the commission considers necessary to assist the PUC in a proceeding before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for certain proceedings. The bill would require electric utilities to reimburse the PUC for reasonable costs of such persons. Based on the analysis of the PUC and the Office of the Attorney General, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. The bill would amend the Utilities Code to allow the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to order certain electric utilities to interact with, join, or submit to the operation control of a regional transmission organization or independent system operator. The bill would also allow the PUC to engage any consultant, accountant, auditor, engineer or attorney that the commission considers necessary to assist the PUC in a proceeding before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for certain proceedings. The bill would require electric utilities to reimburse the PUC for reasonable costs of such persons. Based on the analysis of the PUC and the Office of the Attorney General, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas LBB Staff: JOB, KJG, MW, RAN, AG JOB, KJG, MW, RAN, AG