Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2052 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R11806 SGM-F
2	2	By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2052
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the provision of electricity service in this state.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
10	10	read as follows:
11	11	(b) A customer is entitled:
12	12	(1) to be informed about rights and opportunities in
13	13	the transition to a competitive electric industry;
14	14	(2) to choose the customer's retail electric provider
15	15	consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to
16	16	assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed
17	17	without the customer's informed consent;
18	18	(3) to have access to providers of energy efficiency
19	19	services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of
20	20	energy generated by renewable energy resources;
21	21	(4) to be served by a provider of last resort that
22	22	offers a commission-approved standard service package;
23	23	(5) to receive sufficient information to make an
24	24	informed choice of service provider;
25	25	(6) to be protected from unfair, misleading, or
26	26	deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for
27	27	services that were not authorized or provided; [and]
28	28	(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of
29	29	disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission
30	30	and distribution utility;
31	31	(8) to participation in demand response programs
32	32	through retail electric providers and demand response providers;
33	33	and
34	34	(9) to receive notice from the retail electric
35	35	provider that serves the customer:
36	36	(A) when the independent organization certified
37	37	under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region issues an emergency
38	38	energy alert about low operating reserves to providers of
39	39	generation in the power region; or
40	40	(B) of imminent rolling outages and the length of
41	41	time the outages are planned or expected to last.
42	42	SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
43	43	amended by adding Section 39.918 to read as follows:
44	44	Sec. 39.918. RESIDENTIAL DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM. (a) The
45	45	commission by rule shall require each retail electric provider in
46	46	the ERCOT power region to create a residential demand response
47	47	program to reduce the average total residential load by at least:
48	48	(1) one percent of peak summer and winter demand by
49	49	December 31, 2022;
50	50	(2) two percent of peak summer and winter demand by
51	51	December 31, 2023;
52	52	(3) three percent of peak summer and winter demand by
53	53	December 31, 2024; and
54	54	(4) five percent of peak summer and winter demand by
55	55	December 31, 2025.
56	56	(b) The rules must:
57	57	(1) ensure that demand response participation is
58	58	reasonably available to residential customers;
59	59	(2) promote the use of smart metering technology;
60	60	(3) ensure that demand response programs are capable
61	61	of responding to an emergency energy alert about low operating
62	62	reserves issued by the independent organization certified under
63	63	Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region;
64	64	(4) provide opportunities for demand response
65	65	providers to contract with retail electric providers to provide
66	66	demand response services; and
67	67	(5) ensure the program does not impact the critical
68	68	needs of vulnerable populations.
69	69	SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is
70	70	amended by adding Section 186.008 to read as follows:
71	71	Sec. 186.008. TRANSMISSION OUTAGE PLAN. (a) In this
72	72	section, "commission" means the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
73	73	(b) The commission by rule shall require all electric
74	74	utilities, as defined by Section 31.002, municipally owned
75	75	utilities, and electric cooperatives that own transmission and
76	76	distribution assets in this state to file and implement an outage
77	77	plan that includes a plan for shutting off customer access to
78	78	electricity in the event of the need for rolling outages to prevent
79	79	brown-outs and black-outs. The rules must:
80	80	(1) require the utility or cooperative to update the
81	81	plan annually;
82	82	(2) share the plan with the independent system
83	83	operator, as defined by Section 31.002, for the area in which the
84	84	utility or cooperative operates; and
85	85	(3) require the utility or cooperative to make the
86	86	plan publicly available.
87	87	(c) The commission may require an electric utility,
88	88	municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative subject to this
89	89	section to file an updated transmission outage plan if the
90	90	commission finds that a transmission outage plan on file does not
91	91	contain adequate information.
92	92	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
93	93	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
94	94	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
95	95	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
96	96	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.