BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3092 By: Gerdes State Affairs Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas is experiencing economic and population growth, increasing the demand for reliable electricity infrastructure. However, the bill author has informed the committee that the process of building new transmission lines is often lengthy and cumbersome, delaying critical energy projects. Under current law, a utility is required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity (CCN) for any transmission line project that exceeds three miles in length, adding regulatory hurdles that may slow the expansion of the state's power grid. The bill author has further informed the committee that with Texas facing increasing energy demands and the need for enhanced grid security, there is a growing need to streamline the approval process for smaller transmission projects, as the existing requirement to amend a CCN for short-distance transmission lines places an unnecessary administrative burden on both utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 3092 seeks to resolve this issue by increasing the threshold for requiring a CCN amendment from three miles to five miles for new transmission line projects. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 3092 amends the Utilities Code to increase from three to five the maximum number of miles in length of a transmission line that connects an electric utility's existing transmission facilities to a load-serving substation or metering point for which the utility is not required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 3092
By: Gerdes
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 3092
By: Gerdes
State Affairs
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas is experiencing economic and population growth, increasing the demand for reliable electricity infrastructure. However, the bill author has informed the committee that the process of building new transmission lines is often lengthy and cumbersome, delaying critical energy projects. Under current law, a utility is required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity (CCN) for any transmission line project that exceeds three miles in length, adding regulatory hurdles that may slow the expansion of the state's power grid. The bill author has further informed the committee that with Texas facing increasing energy demands and the need for enhanced grid security, there is a growing need to streamline the approval process for smaller transmission projects, as the existing requirement to amend a CCN for short-distance transmission lines places an unnecessary administrative burden on both utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 3092 seeks to resolve this issue by increasing the threshold for requiring a CCN amendment from three miles to five miles for new transmission line projects.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 3092 amends the Utilities Code to increase from three to five the maximum number of miles in length of a transmission line that connects an electric utility's existing transmission facilities to a load-serving substation or metering point for which the utility is not required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas is experiencing economic and population growth, increasing the demand for reliable electricity infrastructure. However, the bill author has informed the committee that the process of building new transmission lines is often lengthy and cumbersome, delaying critical energy projects. Under current law, a utility is required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity (CCN) for any transmission line project that exceeds three miles in length, adding regulatory hurdles that may slow the expansion of the state's power grid. The bill author has further informed the committee that with Texas facing increasing energy demands and the need for enhanced grid security, there is a growing need to streamline the approval process for smaller transmission projects, as the existing requirement to amend a CCN for short-distance transmission lines places an unnecessary administrative burden on both utilities and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. H.B. 3092 seeks to resolve this issue by increasing the threshold for requiring a CCN amendment from three miles to five miles for new transmission line projects.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 3092 amends the Utilities Code to increase from three to five the maximum number of miles in length of a transmission line that connects an electric utility's existing transmission facilities to a load-serving substation or metering point for which the utility is not required to amend its certificate of public convenience and necessity to construct.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.