By: Hegar S.B. No. 1133
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to weatherization and preparedness reports by the Public
Utility Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Section 186.0021 to read as follows:
Sec. 186.0021. WEATHERIZATION AND PREPAREDNESS REPORT.
(a) To ensure reliability of electric service during extreme
weather events, the commission, in consultation with the Electric
Reliability Council of Texas, shall prepare a report on the
weatherization and preparedness of generators within the Electric
Reliability Council of Texas. Subsequent reports shall be
submitted only if significant changes to weatherization have
occurred or are necessary to protect consumers, vital services or
if there have been changes to statute or rule relating to
weatherization requirements. In preparing the report, the
commission shall:
(1) review the weatherization plans currently on file
with the commission;
(2) analyze and determine whether such plans are
adequate to ensure reliability of the electric grid for the
upcoming summer or winter;
(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the
upcoming summer or winter as forecasted by the National Weather
Service or any similar state or national agency; and
(4) make recommendations as to how weatherization
procedures can be improved to carry out the policies stated in this
section.
(b) In reviewing a weatherization plan described by
Subsection (a) and to further the policies stated in this chapter,
the commission, on finding that a weatherization plan on file is
lacking in sufficient detail to determine its adequacy, shall
require a generator to file an updated report containing sufficient
detail.
(c) The commission shall finalize and publish the report
described by Subsection (a):
(1) not later than March 1st of each year for the
summer weatherization and preparedness report; and
(2) not later than September 1st of each year for the
winter weatherization and preparedness report.
(d) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the
implementation of the report described by Subsection (a) and any
other rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of the report.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, the
weatherization plans of generators considered in the publication of
the report described by Subsection (a) are not confidential or
otherwise exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552, Government
Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.