Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4224 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R10808 JXC-D
2	2	By: Bucy H.B. No. 4224
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities
8	8	for providing electric service.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 35.0025 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 35.0025. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a)
13	13	The commission by rule shall establish best practices and
14	14	procedures for providers of generation in the ERCOT power region
15	15	for:
16	16	(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment,
17	17	personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for
18	18	extreme weather events;
19	19	(2) plant design for new plants and modifications to
20	20	existing plants to ensure the plants can operate at the lowest
21	21	recorded ambient temperature for the nearest municipality for which
22	22	historical data is available;
23	23	(3) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze
24	24	protection elements;
25	25	(4) heat tracing;
26	26	(5) thermal insulation;
27	27	(6) the erection of adequate windbreaks and
28	28	enclosures;
29	29	(7) annual winter-specific and plant-specific
30	30	operator awareness and maintenance training;
31	31	(8) prioritizing winter preparation each fall;
32	32	(9) establishing personnel accountability and audit
33	33	procedures; and
34	34	(10) updating facility procedures at least annually as
35	35	needed.
36	36	(b) The commission by rule shall require each provider of
37	37	generation in the ERCOT power region to:
38	38	(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as
39	39	necessary a plan for:
40	40	(A) using the best practices and procedures to
41	41	provide adequate electric generation service during a winter
42	42	weather emergency;
43	43	(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance
44	44	for freeze protection elements;
45	45	(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before
46	46	and during the winter;
47	47	(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection
48	48	elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required
49	49	maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and
50	50	(E) making any needed repairs or improvements
51	51	before the next winter; and
52	52	(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision
53	53	(1).
54	54	(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of
55	55	providers of generation for compliance with rules adopted under
56	56	this section.
57	57	SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
58	58	amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows:
59	59	Sec. 38.074. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a)
60	60	The commission by rule shall establish best practices and
61	61	procedures for electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities,
62	62	and transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission
63	63	or distribution service in the ERCOT power region for:
64	64	(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment,
65	65	personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for
66	66	extreme weather events;
67	67	(2) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze
68	68	protection elements;
69	69	(3) heat tracing;
70	70	(4) thermal insulation;
71	71	(5) the erection of adequate windbreaks and
72	72	enclosures;
73	73	(6) annual winter-specific operator awareness and
74	74	maintenance training;
75	75	(7) prioritizing winter preparation each fall;
76	76	(8) establishing personnel accountability and audit
77	77	procedures; and
78	78	(9) updating facility procedures at least annually as
79	79	needed.
80	80	(b) The commission by rule shall require each electric
81	81	cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and
82	82	distribution utility providing transmission or distribution
83	83	service in the ERCOT power region to:
84	84	(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as
85	85	necessary a plan for:
86	86	(A) using the best practices and procedures to
87	87	maintain service quality and reliability during a winter weather
88	88	emergency;
89	89	(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance
90	90	for freeze protection elements;
91	91	(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before
92	92	and during the winter;
93	93	(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection
94	94	elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required
95	95	maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and
96	96	(E) making any needed repairs or improvements
97	97	before the next winter; and
98	98	(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision
99	99	(1).
100	100	(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of
101	101	electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, and
102	102	transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission or
103	103	distribution service in the ERCOT power region for compliance with
104	104	rules adopted under this section.
105	105	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.