87R26508 BRG-F
By: Hancock S.B. No. 1281
(King of Parker)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1281: No.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a reliability assessment of the ERCOT power grid and
certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain
transmission projects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 37.052, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) An electric utility is not required to amend the
utility's certificate of public convenience and necessity to
construct a transmission line that connects the utility's existing
transmission facilities to a load-serving substation or metering
point if:
(1) the transmission line does not exceed three miles
in length;
(2) each landowner whose property would be directly
affected by the transmission line, as provided by commission rules,
provides written consent for the transmission line; and
(3) all rights-of-way necessary for construction of
the transmission line have been purchased.
SECTION 2. Section 37.056, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
follows:
(c-1) In considering the need for additional service under
Subsection (c)(2) for a reliability transmission project that
serves the ERCOT power region, the commission must consider the
following:
(1) historical load, forecasted load growth, and
additional load currently seeking interconnection; and
(2) security constrained optimal power flows for a
reasonable range of power generation dispatch scenarios, including
reliability limitations in serving load during high and low
renewable generation output.
(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 congestion cost savings for consumers that may result
from the transmission project, considering both current and future
expected congestion levels and the transmission project's ability
to reduce those congestion levels. The commission shall include
with its decision on an application for a certificate to which this
subsection applies findings on the criteria.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.159 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.159. GRID RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT. (a) The
independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
ERCOT power region shall conduct an annual assessment of the ERCOT
power grid to assess the grid's reliability in extreme weather
scenarios.
(b) Each assessment must:
(1) consider the impact of different levels of thermal
and renewable generation availability; and
(2) recommend transmission projects that may increase
the grid's reliability in extreme weather scenarios.
SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.