By: Rodriguez, Van de Putte S.B. No. 1586
(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2013; March 19, 2013, read
first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
May 2, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 2, 2013,
sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1586 By: Watson
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to distributed renewable generation of electricity.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), Section 39.916,
Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows:
(1) "Distributed renewable generation" means electric
generation [with a capacity of not more than 2,000 kilowatts]
provided by a renewable energy technology, as defined by Section
39.904:
(A) with a capacity of not more than 2,000
kilowatts[,] that is installed on a retail electric customer's side
of the meter;
(B) with a capacity of not more than five
megawatts that is installed on a retail electric customer's side of
the meter and is located on land or in a facility owned by this state
or a school district; or
(C) with a capacity of not more than 10 megawatts
that is installed on land or in a facility owned by the federal
government.
SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 39.916, Utilities Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(b) A transmission and distribution utility or electric
utility shall allow interconnection if:
(1) the distributed renewable generation to be
interconnected has a five-year warranty against breakdown or undue
degradation; [and]
(2) the rated capacity of the distributed renewable
generation does not exceed the transmission and distribution
utility or electric utility service capacity; and
(3) for distributed renewable generation described by
Subsection (a)(1)(B) or (C), the commission has not made a finding
that the interconnection of the generation will impair reliability
or increase customer costs.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall adopt and
implement rules as necessary to accommodate the interconnection of
distributed renewable generation described by Paragraphs (B) and
(C), Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), Section 39.916, Utilities
Code, as added by this Act, to an electricity distribution system.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.
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