87R13155 CXP-D
By: Lucio III H.B. No. 3749
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of electric service during extreme
weather conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 35.0021 to read as follows:
Sec. 35.0021. EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS. The commission
shall conduct regular inspections of facilities and equipment used
by providers of generation in the ERCOT power region to ensure
adequate weatherization preparedness for extreme weather
conditions.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.918 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.918. PUBLICATION OF ENERGY EMERGENCY ALERTS. If an
independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
ERCOT power region declares an energy emergency alert, the
commission shall publish a notification regarding the alert on the
home page of the commission's Internet website as soon as
practicable.
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 186.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 186.008. EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN AUDITS. (a) The
Public Utility Commission of Texas by rule shall develop a
procedure for auditing emergency operations plans developed by:
(1) electric utilities, as defined by Section 31.002;
(2) power generation companies, as defined by Section
31.002;
(3) municipally owned utilities, as defined by Section
11.003;
(4) electric cooperatives;
(5) retail electric providers, as defined by Section
31.002; and
(6) the independent organization certified under
Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region.
(b) The procedure for auditing emergency operations plans
must require an entity described by Subsection (a) to file an
updated emergency operations plan if the Public Utility Commission
of Texas finds that the entity's emergency operations plan on file
does not contain adequate information to determine whether the
entity can provide adequate services during an emergency.
SECTION 4. (a) Not later than December 1, 2021, the governor
shall appoint a task force to conduct a study of the actions of the
Public Utility Commission of Texas, the independent organization
certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code, for the ERCOT power
region, and electricity market participants taken during February
2021 to respond to the extreme weather event of that month.
(b) A person must have expertise in electricity markets to
be eligible for appointment to the task force.
(c) Not later than September 1, 2022, the task force shall
submit a report of the findings of the study and any associated
recommendations to the legislature.
(d) The task force is abolished and this section expires
December 31, 2022.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.