88R4530 ANG-F
By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 3178
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas
to ensure the independent organization certified for the ERCOT
power region has adequate reserve power to prevent blackout
conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.166 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.166. ENSURING RESERVE POWER CAPACITY. (a) The
commission by rule shall develop a process for obtaining emergency
reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent
blackout conditions caused by shortages of generated power in the
ERCOT power region. The rules must provide:
(1) parameters for estimating the amount of emergency
reserve power generation capacity necessary to prevent blackout
conditions; and
(2) mechanisms for equitably sharing the costs of
making the reserve capacity available and the costs of generated
power provided to prevent blackout conditions.
(b) In accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (a),
an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
ERCOT power region shall adopt procedures and enter contracts as
necessary to ensure the availability of a defined amount of
emergency reserve power generation capacity the organization may
call on to prevent blackouts caused by shortages of generated
power.
(c) Before the independent organization calls on the
emergency reserve power generation capacity to prevent blackout
conditions, the organization shall use all other sources of power
and demand reduction available in accordance with commission rules
adopted under this section.
SECTION 2. 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, 2023.