82R9810 AJZ-F
By: Carona S.B. No. 1434
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain low-income weatherization programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 39.905, Utilities Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (f-1) to read as
follows:
(f) Unless funding is provided under Section 39.903, each
unbundled transmission and distribution utility shall include in
its energy efficiency plan a targeted low-income energy efficiency
program as described by Section 39.903(f)(2), and the savings
achieved by the program shall count toward the transmission and
distribution utility's energy efficiency goal. The commission
shall determine the appropriate level of funding to be allocated to
both targeted and standard offer low-income energy efficiency
programs in each unbundled transmission and distribution utility
service area. The commission shall ensure that annual [The total]
expenditures for the [both] targeted [and standard offer]
low-income energy efficiency programs of each unbundled
transmission and distribution utility are not less than 15 percent
of the transmission and distribution utility's energy efficiency
budget for the year [will be based on the amount spent by the
transmission and distribution utility on the commission's
hard-to-reach program in calendar year 2003]. The [This] level of
funding for low-income energy efficiency programs shall be provided
from money approved by the commission for the transmission and
distribution utility's energy efficiency programs. In a
proceeding to establish an energy efficiency cost recovery factor
related to expenditures under this subsection, the commission shall
make findings of fact regarding whether the utility meets
requirements imposed under this subsection. The state agency that
administers the federal weatherization assistance program shall
provide reports as required by the commission to provide the most
current information available on energy and peak demand savings
achieved in each transmission and distribution utility service
area. The agency shall participate in proceedings to establish an
energy efficiency cost recovery factor related to expenditures
under this subsection to ensure that targeted low-income
weatherization programs are consistent with federal weatherization
programs and adequately funded.
(f-1) The commission shall issue and publish on the
commission's Internet website an annual report that:
(1) summarizes by utility the energy efficiency
programs, including the costs and savings of each program;
(2) identifies by utility the number of residences
weatherized under the targeted weatherization program;
(3) identifies the total number and percentage of
low-income customers within each utility's service territory who
are eligible for the targeted weatherization program;
(4) compares, on a square-foot basis, the energy
savings realized by each utility's low-income customers who receive
energy efficiency services to the energy savings realized by other
customers of the utility who receive energy efficiency services;
(5) identifies each utility's average bill savings
realized as a result of the program; and
(6) identifies the cost of the program expressed as a
percentage of the total cost of each utility's energy efficiency
programs.
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.