Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1281 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 1281
	1	+	87R26508 BRG-F
	2	+	By: Hancock S.B. No. 1281
	3	+	(King of Parker)
	4	+	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1281: No.
2	5
3	6
	7	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	8		AN ACT
5	9		relating to a reliability assessment of the ERCOT power grid and
6	10		certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain
7	11		transmission projects.
8	12		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	13		SECTION 1. Section 37.052, Utilities Code, is amended by
10	14		adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
11	15		(c) An electric utility is not required to amend the
12	16		utility's certificate of public convenience and necessity to
13	17		construct a transmission line that connects the utility's existing
14		-	transmission facilities to a substation or metering point if:
15		-	(1) the transmission line does not exceed:
16		-	(A) three miles in length, if the line connects
17		-	to a load-serving substation or metering point; or
18		-	(B) two miles in length, if the line connects to a
19		-	generation substation or metering point;
	18	+	transmission facilities to a load-serving substation or metering
	19	+	point if:
	20	+	(1) the transmission line does not exceed three miles
	21	+	in length;
20	22		(2) each landowner whose property would be directly
21	23		affected by the transmission line, as provided by commission rules,
22	24		provides written consent for the transmission line; and
23	25		(3) all rights-of-way necessary for construction of
24	26		the transmission line have been purchased.
25	27		SECTION 2. Section 37.056, Utilities Code, is amended by
26	28		adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to read as
27	29		follows:
28	30		(c-1) In considering the need for additional service under
29	31		Subsection (c)(2) for a reliability transmission project that
30	32		serves the ERCOT power region, the commission must consider the
31		-	historical load, forecasted load growth, and additional load
32		-	currently seeking interconnection.
	33	+	following:
	34	+	(1) historical load, forecasted load growth, and
	35	+	additional load currently seeking interconnection; and
	36	+	(2) security constrained optimal power flows for a
	37	+	reasonable range of power generation dispatch scenarios, including
	38	+	reliability limitations in serving load during high and low
	39	+	renewable generation output.
33	40		(d) The commission by rule shall establish criteria, in
34	41		addition to the criteria described by Subsection (c), for granting
35	42		a certificate for a transmission project that serves the ERCOT
36	43		power region, that is not necessary to meet state or federal
37	44		reliability standards, and that is not included in a plan developed
38	45		under Section 39.904(g) [does not serve a competitive renewable
39	46		energy zone]. The criteria must include a comparison of the
40	47		estimated cost of the transmission project for consumers and the
41	48		estimated congestion cost savings for consumers that may result
42	49		from the transmission project, considering both current and future
43	50		expected congestion levels and the transmission project's ability
44	51		to reduce those congestion levels. The commission shall include
45	52		with its decision on an application for a certificate to which this
46	53		subsection applies findings on the criteria.
47	54		SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
48	55		amended by adding Section 39.159 to read as follows:
49	56		Sec. 39.159. GRID RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT. (a) The
50	57		independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
51		-	ERCOT power region shall conduct ~~a biennial~~ assessment of the ERCOT
	58	+	ERCOT power region shall conduct an annual assessment of the ERCOT
52	59		power grid to assess the grid's reliability in extreme weather
53	60		scenarios.
54	61		(b) Each assessment must:
55	62		(1) consider the impact of different levels of thermal
56	63		and renewable generation availability; and
57	64		(2) recommend transmission projects that may increase
58	65		the grid's reliability in extreme weather scenarios.
59	66		SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
60	67		a proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
61	68		necessity that commences on or after the effective date of this Act.
62	69		A proceeding affecting a certificate of public convenience and
63	70		necessity that commenced before the effective date of this Act is
64	71		governed by the law in effect on the date the proceeding is
65	72		commenced, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
66	73		SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
67		-	______________________________ ______________________________
68		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
69		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1281 passed the Senate on
70		-	April 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
71		-	May 28, 2021, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
72		-	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 28, 2021, House
73		-	granted request of the Senate; May 30, 2021, Senate adopted
74		-	Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
75		-	Nays 0.
76		-	______________________________
77		-	Secretary of the Senate
78		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1281 passed the House, with
79		-	amendments, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 142,
80		-	Nays 1, two present not voting; May 28, 2021, House granted request
81		-	of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
82		-	May 30, 2021, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
83		-	following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0, two present not voting.
84		-	______________________________
85		-	Chief Clerk of the House
86		-	Approved:
87		-	______________________________
88		-	Date
89		-	______________________________
90		-	Governor