By: Thierry H.B. No. 2016
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas
to ensure the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has adequate
reserve power to prevent blackout conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.159 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.159. ENSURING RESERVE POWER CAPACITY. (a) The
commission by rule shall develop a process for obtaining emergency
reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent
blackout conditions caused by shortages of generated power in the
ERCOT power region. The rules must provide parameters for
estimating the amount of emergency reserve power generation
capacity necessary to prevent blackout conditions and mechanisms
for equitably sharing the costs of contracting for the reserve
capacity to be available and the costs of generated power provided
to prevent blackout conditions.
(b) In accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (a),
an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 shall
contract with power generation companies for a defined amount of
emergency reserve power generation capacity the organization may
call on to prevent blackouts caused by shortages of generated
power.
(c) Before the independent organization calls on the
emergency reserve power generation capacity to prevent blackout
conditions, the organization shall undertake to use all market
sources of power and demand reduction available in accordance with
commission rules adopted under this section.
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.