82R10030 RWG-F
By: Watson S.B. No. 1501
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to energy and efficiency conservation programs
administered by the Texas Public Utility Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 36.204, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 36.204. COST RECOVERY AND INCENTIVES. In establishing
rates for an electric utility, the commission may:
(1) allow timely recovery of the reasonable costs of
conservation, load management, and purchased power,
notwithstanding Section 36.201; and
(2) authorize additional incentives for:
(A) conservation, load management, purchased
power, and renewable resources; or
(B) programs with measurable and verifiable
results that inform commercial or residential consumers about:
(i) energy efficient materials; or
(ii) methods to reduce energy consumption
through behavioral changes that lead to efficient use patterns and
practices.
SECTION 2. Section 39.905(d), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(d) The commission shall establish a procedure for
reviewing and evaluating market-transformation program options
described by this subsection and other options. In evaluating
program options, the commission may consider the ability of a
program option to reduce costs to customers through reduced demand,
energy savings, and relief of congestion. Utilities may choose to
implement any program option approved by the commission after its
evaluation in order to satisfy the goal in Subsection (a),
including:
(1) energy-smart schools;
(2) appliance retirement and recycling;
(3) air conditioning system tune-ups;
(4) the use of trees or other landscaping for energy
efficiency;
(5) customer energy management and demand response
programs;
(6) high performance residential and commercial
buildings that will achieve the levels of energy efficiency
sufficient to qualify those buildings for federal tax incentives;
(7) programs for customers who rent or lease their
residence or commercial space;
(8) programs providing energy monitoring equipment to
customers that enable a customer to better understand the amount,
price, and time of the customer's energy use;
(9) energy audit programs for owners and other
residents of single-family or multifamily residences and for small
commercial customers;
(10) net-zero energy new home programs;
(11) solar thermal or solar electric programs; [and]
(12) programs for using windows and other glazing
systems, glass doors, and skylights in residential and commercial
buildings that reduce solar gain by at least 30 percent from the
level established for the federal Energy Star windows program; and
(13) energy use programs with measurable and
verifiable results that inform commercial or residential consumers
about:
(A) energy efficient materials; or
(B) methods to reduce energy consumption through
behavioral changes that lead to efficient use patterns and
practices.
SECTION 3. 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.