Texas House Bill HB13

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Disaster Reliability Council.

Impact

This legislation is expected to amend existing statutes within the Utilities Code, centralizing the authority for energy disaster management under the new council. By focusing on coordination between public utilities and natural gas providers, the bill seeks to enhance preparedness against emergencies that disrupt power supply. The scheduled meetings of the council and compulsory reporting requirements will create a structured oversight mechanism intended to improve responsiveness and resilience of energy services in Texas.

Summary

House Bill 13 aims to establish the Texas Energy Disaster Reliability Council, tasked with ensuring the reliability of the state's electric supply chain during disasters. The council will implement procedures to prevent extended natural gas supply failures and power outages, fostering better management of energy resources in times of crisis. It will monitor the supply chains for the electric grid and provide recommendations for maintaining reliability, particularly in the face of disasters that may cause significant service interruptions.

Sentiment

The general sentiment around HB 13 appears to be overwhelmingly positive, as indicated by the unanimous vote in favor during its third reading in the House, where it passed with 149 yeas and no nays. This bipartisan support indicates a collective acknowledgment of the importance of resilience in energy supply, particularly following past events that exposed vulnerabilities in the state's energy infrastructure. The positive reception from legislators suggests a comprehensive alignment on the critical nature of the bill's objectives.

Contention

While there seems to be broad support for the establishment of the council, potential points of contention may arise regarding the implementation of its authority and the specifics of how it will operate. The bill grants the council significant discretion in terms of coordination with various entities, including the federal government and industry stakeholders. This level of oversight could raise concerns among certain groups about regulatory overreach or the degree of transparency in the council's decision-making process.