87R10684 JXC-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2078
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to electricity supplied to certain water facilities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Sections 38.0721 and 38.0722 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.0721. EXCLUSION OF WATER FACILITIES FROM ROLLING
BLACKOUT. The commission by rule shall require each electric
utility, municipally owned utility, and electric cooperative to
exclude any circuits that provide power to a facility necessary to
provide water to wholesale customers from participation in the
utility's or cooperative's attempt to shed load in response to a
rolling blackout initiated by an independent organization
certified under Section 39.151 or another reliability council or
power pool in which the utility or cooperative operates.
Sec. 38.0722. WATER TREATMENT GRANTS. (a) The commission
shall establish a program to provide grants of state money
appropriated for that purpose to facilities necessary to provide
water to wholesale customers for the purpose of purchasing of
generators to provide a backup power supply for water treatment
during a power outage.
(b) The commission by rule shall adopt criteria for
determining which facilities should receive grants under this
section. The criteria must prioritize facilities in:
(1) areas with a high frequency or duration of power
outages relative to other areas of the state; and
(2) economically distressed areas, as defined by
Section 15.001, Water Code.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.