87R7903 BRG-F By: Hancock S.B. No. 1281 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 37.056(d), Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: (d) The commission by rule shall establish criteria, in addition to the criteria described by Subsection (c), for granting a certificate for a transmission project that serves the ERCOT power region, that is not necessary to meet state or federal reliability standards, and that is not included in a plan developed under Section 39.904(g) [does not serve a competitive renewable energy zone]. The criteria must include a comparison of the estimated cost of the transmission project for consumers and the estimated cost savings for consumers that may result from the transmission project. The commission shall include with its decision on an application for a certificate to which this subsection applies findings on the criteria. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to a proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and necessity that commences on or after the effective date of this Act. A proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and necessity that commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding is commenced, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.