By: Hegar S.B. No. 1133
(Harless)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a report by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on
the ability of electric generators to respond to abnormal weather
conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 186.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 186.007. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORT.
(a) In this section, "commission" means the Public Utility
Commission of Texas.
(a-1) The commission shall analyze emergency operations
plans developed by electric utilities as defined by Section 31.002,
power generation companies, municipally owned utilities, and
electric cooperatives that operate generation facilities in this
state and prepare a weather emergency preparedness report on power
generation weatherization preparedness. In preparing the report,
the commission shall:
(1) review the emergency operations plans currently on
file with the commission;
(2) analyze and determine the ability of the electric
grid to withstand extreme weather events in the upcoming year;
(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the
upcoming year as forecasted by the National Weather Service or any
similar state or national agency; and
(4) make recommendations on improving emergency
operations plans and procedures in order to ensure the continuity
of electric service.
(b) The commission may require an electric generation
entity subject to this section to file an updated emergency
operations plan if it finds that an emergency operations plan on
file does not contain adequate information to determine whether the
electric generation entity can provide adequate electric
generation services.
(c) The commission may adopt rules relating to the
implementation of the report described by Subsection (a-1).
(d) The commission shall submit the report described by
Subsection (a-1) to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the members of the legislature not
later than September 30, 2012.
(e) The commission may submit subsequent weather emergency
preparedness reports if the commission finds that significant
changes to weatherization techniques have occurred or are necessary
to protect consumers or vital services, or if there have been
changes to statutes or rules relating to weatherization
requirements. A report under this subsection must be submitted not
later than:
(1) March 1 for a summer weather emergency
preparedness report; and
(2) September 1 for a winter weather emergency
preparedness report.
(f) The emergency operations plans submitted for the report
described by Subsection (a-1) and any subsequent plans submitted
under Subsection (e) are public information except for the portions
of the plan considered confidential under Chapter 552, Government
Code, or other state or federal law. If portions of a plan are
designated as confidential, the plan shall be provided to the
commission in a redacted form for public inspection with the
confidential portions removed. An electric generation entity
within the ERCOT power region shall provide the entity's plan to
ERCOT in its entirety.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.