S.B. No. 1929
AN ACT
relating to the registration of virtual currency mining facilities
in the ERCOT power region that demand a large load of interruptible
power.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.360 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.360. LARGE FLEXIBLE LOAD REGISTRATION. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Virtual currency" has the meaning assigned by
Section 12.001, Business & Commerce Code.
(2) "Virtual currency mining facility" means a
facility that uses electronic equipment to add virtual currency
transactions to a distributed ledger.
(b) The commission by rule shall require a person operating
a virtual currency mining facility who enters into an agreement for
retail electric service in the ERCOT power region to register the
facility receiving service as a large flexible load under this
section if:
(1) the facility requires a total load of more than 75
megawatts; and
(2) the facility load is interruptible.
(c) The rules must require a person described by Subsection
(b) to:
(1) register the large flexible load with the
commission not later than one business day after the date the
agreement begins; and
(2) provide the commission with:
(A) the location of the facility; and
(B) the anticipated demand from the facility for
the five-year period beginning on the date of the registration.
(d) The commission by rule shall:
(1) adopt criteria for determining whether a load is
interruptible for the purposes of this section based on whether it
is possible for the facility operator to choose to interrupt the
load; and
(2) establish a method to ensure compliance with this
section.
(e) The commission may share with an independent
organization certified under Section 39.151 registration
information received under this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1929 passed the Senate on
April 12, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, 2023, by the
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1929 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 22, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140,
Nays 5, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor