By: Buckingham, Zaffirini S.B. No. 985
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reports by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on the
ability of electric generators to respond to abnormal weather
conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 186.007, Utilities Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 186.007. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORTS
[REPORT].
SECTION 2. Sections 186.007(a-1), (b), (d), (e), and (f),
Utilities Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a-1) The commission shall analyze emergency operations
plans developed by electric utilities as defined by Section 31.002,
power generation companies, municipally owned utilities, and
electric cooperatives that operate generation facilities in this
state and prepare a weather emergency preparedness report on power
generation weatherization preparedness. In preparing the report,
the commission shall:
(1) review the emergency operations plans currently on
file with the commission;
(2) analyze and determine the ability of the electric
grid to withstand extreme weather events in the upcoming year,
including weather events that have only a one percent or two percent
chance of occurring in the upcoming year;
(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the
upcoming year as forecasted by the National Weather Service or any
similar state or national agency; and
(4) make recommendations on improving emergency
operations plans and procedures in order to ensure the continuity
of electric service.
(b) The commission shall [may] require an electric
generation entity subject to this section to file an updated
emergency operations plan if it finds that an emergency operations
plan on file does not contain adequate information to determine
whether the electric generation entity can provide adequate
electric generation services.
(d) The commission shall submit the report described by
Subsection (a-1) to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives, and the members of the legislature not
later than September 30 of each even-numbered year[, 2012].
(e) The commission may submit additional [subsequent]
weather emergency preparedness reports if the commission finds that
significant changes to weatherization techniques have occurred or
are necessary to protect consumers or vital services, or if there
have been changes to statutes or rules relating to weatherization
requirements. A report under this subsection must be submitted not
later than:
(1) March 1 for a summer weather emergency
preparedness report; and
(2) September 1 for a winter weather emergency
preparedness report.
(f) The emergency operations plans submitted for a [the]
report described by Subsection (a-1) and any additional
[subsequent] plans submitted under Subsection (e) are public
information except for the portions of the plan considered
confidential under Chapter 552, Government Code, or other state or
federal law. If portions of a plan are designated as confidential,
the plan shall be provided to the commission in a redacted form for
public inspection with the confidential portions removed. An
electric generation entity within the ERCOT power region shall
provide the entity's plan to ERCOT in its entirety.
SECTION 3. The first report described by Section
186.007(a-1), Utilities Code, as amended by this Act, is due
September 30, 2022.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.