85S10807 JXC-D
By: Pickett H.B. No. 199
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of an electric utility to impose a rate or
charge on an owner of solar or wind electric generation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 36, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 36.066 to read as follows:
Sec. 36.066. LIMITATIONS ON RATES OR CHARGES IMPOSED ON
SOLAR OR WIND ELECTRIC GENERATION OWNERS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Distributed solar or wind renewable generation"
means electric generation that is installed on a retail electric
customer's side of the meter and uses an energy source derived
directly:
(A) from the sun; or
(B) from wind.
(2) "Distributed solar or wind renewable generation
owner" means:
(A) an owner of distributed solar or wind
renewable generation;
(B) a retail electric customer on whose side of
the meter distributed solar or wind renewable generation is
installed and operated, regardless of whether the customer takes
ownership of the distributed solar or wind renewable generation; or
(C) a person who by contract is assigned
ownership rights to energy produced from distributed solar or wind
renewable generation located at the premises of the customer on the
customer's side of the meter.
(b) An electric utility may not impose on residential
customers who are distributed solar or wind renewable generation
owners:
(1) a rate or charge that applies only to those
customers; or
(2) a rate or charge that is significantly higher than
a similar charge imposed on residential customers who are not
distributed solar or wind renewable generation owners.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a rate or charge finally approved on or after the effective date
of this Act. A rate or charge finally approved before that date is
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date
of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
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 December 1, 2017.