Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB4784 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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1	1	88R13423 KBB-F
2	2	By: Anchía H.B. No. 4784
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power
8	8	region.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
11	11	read as follows:
12	12	(b) A customer is entitled:
13	13	(1) to be informed about rights and opportunities in
14	14	the transition to a competitive electric industry;
15	15	(2) to choose the customer's retail electric provider
16	16	consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to
17	17	assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed
18	18	without the customer's informed consent;
19	19	(3) to have access to providers of energy efficiency
20	20	services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of
21	21	energy generated by renewable energy resources;
22	22	(4) to be served by a provider of last resort that
23	23	offers a commission-approved standard service package;
24	24	(5) to receive sufficient information to make an
25	25	informed choice of service provider;
26	26	(6) to be protected from unfair, misleading, or
27	27	deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for
28	28	services that were not authorized or provided; [and]
29	29	(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of
30	30	disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission
31	31	and distribution utility;
32	32	(8) to participation in demand response programs
33	33	through retail electric providers and demand response providers;
34	34	and
35	35	(9) to receive notice from the retail electric
36	36	provider that serves the customer:
37	37	(A) when the independent organization certified
38	38	under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region issues an emergency
39	39	energy alert about low operating reserves to providers of
40	40	generation in the power region; or
41	41	(B) of planned outages and the length of time the
42	42	outages are expected to last.
43	43	SECTION 2. Section 39.905, Utilities Code, is amended by
44	44	adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-2) to read as follows:
45	45	(a-1) In addition to meeting the demand goals provided by
46	46	Subsection (a), each electric utility shall also meet an annual
47	47	energy savings goal of:
48	48	(1) one-fourth of one percent annual energy savings in
49	49	the 2024 calendar year;
50	50	(2) one-half of one percent annual energy savings in
51	51	the 2025 calendar year;
52	52	(3) three-fourths of one percent annual energy savings
53	53	in the 2026 calendar year; and
54	54	(4) one percent annual energy savings beginning with
55	55	the 2027 calendar year.
56	56	(b-2) The commission by rule shall provide a method to
57	57	establish each utility's annual savings goal under Subsection
58	58	(a-1). The method must be based on the existing and expected usage
59	59	of electricity delivered in a utility's service area that is
60	60	required to pay the annual energy efficiency cost recovery fee. In
61	61	adopting rules, the commission may provide for cost caps for the
62	62	implementation of Subsection (a-1) and provide good cause
63	63	exceptions for a utility that is unable to meet the goal in a
64	64	cost-effective manner.
65	65	SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
66	66	amended by adding Section 39.919 to read as follows:
67	67	Sec. 39.919. RESIDENTIAL DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM. (a) The
68	68	commission by rule shall require each retail electric provider in
69	69	the ERCOT power region to create a residential demand response
70	70	program to reduce the average total residential load by at least:
71	71	(1) one percent of peak summer and winter demand by
72	72	December 31, 2024;
73	73	(2) two percent of peak summer and winter demand by
74	74	December 31, 2025;
75	75	(3) three percent of peak summer and winter demand by
76	76	December 31, 2026; and
77	77	(4) five percent of peak summer and winter demand by
78	78	December 31, 2027.
79	79	(b) The rules must:
80	80	(1) ensure that demand response participation is
81	81	reasonably available to residential customers;
82	82	(2) promote the use of smart metering technology;
83	83	(3) ensure that demand response programs are capable
84	84	of responding to an emergency energy alert about low operating
85	85	reserves issued by the independent organization certified under
86	86	Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region;
87	87	(4) provide opportunities for demand response
88	88	providers to contract with retail electric providers to provide
89	89	demand response services; and
90	90	(5) ensure the program does not impact the critical
91	91	needs of vulnerable populations.
92	92	SECTION 4. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
93	93	adopt rules to implement the changes made by this Act to Section
94	94	39.905, Utilities Code, not later than December 31, 2023.
95	95	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.