| 1 | 1 | | 87R9830 TYPED |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Tinderholt H.B. No. 1731 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to protection of the electric power transmission and |
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| 8 | 8 | | distribution system. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD LEVELS. Section 39.151, |
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| 11 | 11 | | Utilities Code, is amended by adding Subsections (o) and (p) to read |
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| 12 | 12 | | as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | (o) The commission by rule shall identify and implement |
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| 14 | 14 | | design standards for the electric power transmission and |
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| 15 | 15 | | distribution system to limit electromagnetic field levels and |
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| 16 | 16 | | protect the transmission and distribution system. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (p) The commission by rule shall require the independent |
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| 18 | 18 | | organization certified under this section to consider |
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| 19 | 19 | | electromagnetic field levels when determining the public need for a |
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| 20 | 20 | | transmission line. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. ELECTRICAL POWER GRID RELIABILITY TASK FORCE. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (a) The electrical power grid reliability task force is created. |
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| 23 | 23 | | The task force shall study the likely effectiveness and costs of |
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| 24 | 24 | | various measures to protect and strengthen the electric power |
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| 25 | 25 | | transmission and distribution system against all hazards. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (b) The task force consists of five members appointed by the |
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| 27 | 27 | | lieutenant governor and five members appointed by the speaker of |
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| 28 | 28 | | the house. The task force: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) may not: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (A) consist of more than 10 members; or |
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| 31 | 31 | | (B) include employees of the Public Utility |
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| 32 | 32 | | Commission of Texas; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | (2) must include at least the following members: |
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| 34 | 34 | | (A) two members of the house of representatives |
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| 35 | 35 | | appointed by the speaker of the house; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (B) two senators appointed by the lieutenant |
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| 37 | 37 | | governor; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (C) an expert on electromagnetic pulse |
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| 39 | 39 | | disturbances appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (D) an expert on cybersecurity appointed by the |
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| 41 | 41 | | lieutenant governor; |
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| 42 | 42 | | (E) an expert on terrorism appointed by the |
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| 43 | 43 | | lieutenant governor; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (F) an expert on geomagnetic disturbances |
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| 45 | 45 | | appointed by the speaker of the house; and |
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| 46 | 46 | | (G) an expert on electric power transmission and |
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| 47 | 47 | | distribution system security appointed by the speaker of the house. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (c) The task force shall elect a presiding officer. |
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| 49 | 49 | | (d) The task force shall: |
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| 50 | 50 | | (1) evaluate strategies and technologies to |
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| 51 | 51 | | strengthen the transmission and distribution system, including: |
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| 52 | 52 | | (A) blocking devices; |
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| 53 | 53 | | (B) faraday cages; and |
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| 54 | 54 | | (C) surge arrestors; |
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| 55 | 55 | | (2) survey transmission and distribution utilities |
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| 56 | 56 | | to: |
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| 57 | 57 | | (A) determine the number of high voltage |
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| 58 | 58 | | transformers in this state; and |
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| 59 | 59 | | (B) evaluate the utilities' plans to improve |
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| 60 | 60 | | current infrastructure; |
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| 61 | 61 | | (3) research existing grid protection policies |
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| 62 | 62 | | outside this state; |
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| 63 | 63 | | (4) make recommendations for the implementation of |
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| 64 | 64 | | strategies and technologies that will most effectively and |
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| 65 | 65 | | efficiently strengthen the transmission and distribution system, |
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| 66 | 66 | | including: |
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| 67 | 67 | | (A) blocking devices; |
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| 68 | 68 | | (B) faraday cages; and |
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| 69 | 69 | | (C) surge arrestors; |
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| 70 | 70 | | (5) make recommendations regarding the allocation of |
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| 71 | 71 | | costs of implementation, including recommendations for which |
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| 72 | 72 | | costs, if any, should be the responsibility of shareholders or |
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| 73 | 73 | | ratepayers; and |
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| 74 | 74 | | (6) determine the feasibility of implementing the |
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| 75 | 75 | | recommended actions. |
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| 76 | 76 | | (e) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall |
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| 77 | 77 | | prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a report of |
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| 78 | 78 | | the task force's findings and recommendations. |
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| 79 | 79 | | (f) A member of the task force established under this |
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| 80 | 80 | | section is not entitled to compensation. Members may be reimbursed |
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| 81 | 81 | | for expenses as follows: |
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| 82 | 82 | | (1) a member is entitled to reimbursement for travel |
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| 83 | 83 | | and other necessary expenses as provided in the General |
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| 84 | 84 | | Appropriations Act; and |
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| 85 | 85 | | (2) a member appointed as a representative of a state |
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| 86 | 86 | | agency is eligible for reimbursement for travel and other necessary |
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| 87 | 87 | | expenses according to the applicable agency's policies. |
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| 88 | 88 | | (g) The division of emergency management of the office of |
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| 89 | 89 | | the governor shall provide administrative support and staff to the |
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| 90 | 90 | | advisory task force established under this section. |
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| 91 | 91 | | SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. The task force established under |
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| 92 | 92 | | this Act is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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| 93 | 93 | | SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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| 94 | 94 | | 1, 2021. |
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