88R14008 DIO-D
By: Thierry H.B. No. 3047
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas
regarding grid resilience and emergency response in electric power
generation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the
Public Utility Commission of Texas.
SECTION 2. GRID RESILIENCE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE STUDY.
(a) The commission shall conduct a study on electric grid
resilience and emergency response in electric power generation.
(b) The study conducted under this section must include:
(1) an analysis of:
(A) technologies, methods, and concepts that may
improve community resilience to frequent or long-duration power
outages;
(B) upgrades and improvements to grid
infrastructure to accommodate projected changes in power demand;
and
(C) previous long-duration power outages that
occurred over a large area to identify common elements and best
practices for electricity restoration and the mitigation and
prevention of future outages; and
(2) the development of:
(A) methods to improve government and community
preparation for long-duration power outages and power outages that
occur over a large area;
(B) tools to help electric utilities ensure
continuous delivery of electricity to emergency facilities;
(C) tools to improve coordination between the
independent organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities
Code, for the ERCOT power region, entities that distribute electric
energy, and political subdivisions;
(D) technologies and capabilities to withstand
and address the current and predicted effect of extreme weather
events and other natural disasters, including the effect of the
changing climate on electric grid infrastructure;
(E) methods to improve information sharing
between relevant federal and state agencies in the event of a mass
power outage, or a physical or cyber attack on electric
infrastructure;
(F) advance monitoring, analytics, operation,
and controls of electric grid systems to improve electric grid
resilience;
(G) methods to maintain cybersecurity during
restoration of electric grid infrastructure and operation; and
(H) methods to strengthen against or otherwise
mitigate adverse effects on electric grid infrastructure from
natural hazards.
(c) In conducting the study, the commission may collaborate
with other state agencies, institutions of higher education,
nonprofit corporations, electric utilities, and other interested
persons.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2024, the
commission shall report the results of the study conducted under
this Act and any recommendations to the legislature. The report
must include any statutory changes necessary to implement the
recommendations made in the report.
SECTION 4. DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS. The commission may
initiate a demonstration project to prove the effectiveness of a
concept, technology, strategy, practice, or method related to any
topic of the study conducted under this Act.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2024.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2023.