By: Paddie H.B. No. 13
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Disaster
Reliability Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 184, Utilities code, is amended by
adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS ENERGY DISASTER RELIABILITY COUNCIL
Sec. 186.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter:
(1) "Council" means the Texas Energy Disaster
Reliability Council established under this subchapter;
(2) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section
418.001 and includes an extended power outage;
(3) "Division" means the Texas Division on Emergency
Management;
(4) "Electric utility" means an entity, including a
river authority, electric cooperative, or municipally owned
utility, that:
(A) provides power generation service in this
state; or
(B) provides transmission or distribution
service in this state;
(5) "Extended power outage" means an interruption in
electric service lasting more than 24 hours.
(6) "Gas provider" means:
(A) a gas pipeline facility operator; or
(B) an operator of a gas well
(7) "Railroad Commission" means the Texas Railroad
Commission;
(8) "Utility Commission" means the Public Utility
Commission of Texas.
Sec. 181.102. TEXAS ENERGY DISASTER RELIABILITY COUNCIL.
(a) The Texas Energy Disaster Reliability Council is established
under this subchapter to:
(1) prevent an extended power outage caused by a
disaster;
(2) implement procedures to manage emergencies caused
by a disaster;
(3) maintain records of critical infrastructure
facilities to maintain service in a disaster;
(4) coordinate the delivery of fuel to electric
generators in a disaster;
(5) monitor supply chains in the electric grid to
minimize service disruptions; and
(6) study and make recommendations on methods to
maintain reliability in the electric grid, including gas supply
networks, during a disaster.
Sec. 181.103. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. (a) The council
consists of:
(1) the chair of the utility commission;
(2) the executive director of the utility commission;
(3) the chair of the railroad commission;
(4) the executive director of the railroad commission;
(5) the chief executive officer of the independent
organization established by Section 39.151, Utilities Code;
(6) the chief of the division.
(b) The chief of the division shall serve as presiding
officer.
(c) The council shall hold semiannual meetings on the weeks
of March 1 and September 1 of each year.
(d) In addition to he meetings required by Subsection (b),
council shall convene as soon as reasonably possible during or
prior to a disaster to address an extended power outage caused by a
disaster in order coordinate fuel supplies and to minimize the
duration of the extended power outage.
(e) In carrying out its functions, the council may consult
and coordinate with:
(1) the United States Department of Energy;
(2) the United States Department of Homeland Security;
(3) the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation;
(4) the Texas Reliability Entity;
(5) federal and state agencies;
(6) members of the electric industry
(7) members of the gas industry; and
(8) grid security experts.
(f) An electric or gas utility shall provide any information
requested by the council.
(g) The meetings of the council and information obtained or
created by the council are not subject to the requirements of
Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code.
(h) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
council.
Sec. 186.104. REPORT. (a) Not later than November 1 of each
even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the legislature a
report on the reliability and stability of the electric supply
chain in the state.
(b) The council shall make recommendations on methods to
strengthen our electric supply chain and to decrease extended power
outages caused by a disaster.
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, 2021.