By: Reynolds H.B. No. 58
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to demand response programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 17.003(d-1), Utilities Code, as added by
S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
amended to read as follows:
(d-1) An electric utility providing electric delivery
service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section
31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the
retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail
electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to
the customers, information about:
(1) the electric utility's procedures for implementing
involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
region;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial
customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
through the electric utility or a demand response provider to
reduce electricity use during times of peak demand, including
during an involuntary load shedding event.
SECTION 2. Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, as added by
S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
amended to read as follows:
(f) A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide
with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information
about:
(1) the utility's procedure for implementing
involuntary load shedding;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial
customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
through the utility or a demand response provider to reduce
electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an
involuntary load shedding event.
SECTION 3. Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, as added by
S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
amended to read as follows:
(f) An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with
bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information
about:
(1) the cooperative's procedure for implementing
involuntary load shedding;
(2) the types of customers who may be considered
critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
under Section 38.076;
(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be
considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
load shedding events may be implemented; and
(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial
customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
through the cooperative or a demand response provider to reduce
electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an
involuntary load shedding event.
SECTION 4. Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) A customer is entitled:
(1) to be informed about rights and opportunities in
the transition to a competitive electric industry;
(2) to choose the customer's retail electric provider
consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to
assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed
without the customer's informed consent;
(3) to have access to providers of energy efficiency
services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of
energy generated by renewable energy resources;
(4) to be served by a provider of last resort that
offers a commission-approved standard service package;
(5) to receive sufficient information to make an
informed choice of service provider;
(6) to be protected from unfair, misleading, or
deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for
services that were not authorized or provided; [and]
(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of
disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission
and distribution utility; and
(8) to participate in demand response programs
through:
(A) retail electric providers; and
(B) demand response providers.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.