89R9526 ANG-F
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 3826
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 18 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 18. TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL
Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the Texas Energy Efficiency
Council.
(2) "Energy efficiency program" means a program
designed to:
(A) increase efficient energy use;
(B) facilitate emergency load management and,
for electric utilities operating in an area of the state not open to
competition, reduce energy consumption during periods of peak
energy demand;
(C) optimize energy consumption;
(D) identify and realize the benefits of energy
efficient building design standards; or
(E) fund the implementation of energy cost
reduction measures.
Sec. 18.002. PURPOSE. The Texas Energy Efficiency Council
is a council established in the commission to evaluate and make
recommendations for:
(1) providing a statewide collaborative approach to
promoting energy efficiency;
(2) measuring, evaluating, and reporting on energy
efficiency performance in this state;
(3) creating a process for monitoring and enhancing
energy efficiency programs in this state;
(4) facilitating opportunities for coordination and
leveraging of federal funding from the United States Department of
Energy, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development,
and other federal agencies that can be used by state agencies and
political subdivisions for the purposes of enhancing energy
efficiency; and
(5) providing a central repository for information on
statewide energy efficiency performance and opportunities to
participate in energy efficiency programs in this state.
Sec. 18.003. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. (a) The council is
composed of nine ex officio members as follows:
(1) the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality;
(2) the chief executive officer of the Electric
Reliability Council of Texas;
(3) the presiding officer of the commission;
(4) the comptroller;
(5) the director of the Texas Department of Housing
and Community Affairs;
(6) the executive director of the Texas Economic
Development and Tourism Office;
(7) the chairman of the Texas Water Development Board;
(8) the director of the Energy Systems Laboratory at
the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M
University System; and
(9) the chief executive of the Office of Public
Utility Counsel.
(b) An ex officio member may designate a person from the
member's agency to serve in the member's place.
(c) The presiding officer of the commission or an employee
designated by the presiding officer under Subsection (b) shall
serve as presiding officer of the council.
(d) The council shall meet at least two times per year at the
call of the presiding officer.
Sec. 18.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall
provide the council with administrative support, including meeting
space and staff necessary to assist the council in carrying out the
council's duties under this chapter.
Sec. 18.005. OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITES. The council shall
use the following official Internet websites for the publication of
information as required by this chapter:
(1) the website of the State Energy Conservation
Office; and
(2) the website of the commission.
Sec. 18.006. LIST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. (a) The
council shall:
(1) develop a list of currently operating energy
efficiency programs in this state and publish the list on the
official Internet websites under Section 18.005; and
(2) work with the State Energy Conservation Office and
the commission to develop and publish on the official Internet
websites under Section 18.005 a user-friendly page that allows a
consumer to search by the consumer's address energy efficiency
programs available in the consumer's service area.
(b) The State Energy Conservation Office and the commission
each shall provide a link on their Internet websites to the page
described by Subsection (a)(2).
Sec. 18.007. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a)
Except as provided by this section, the council is not subject to
Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code.
(b) Information written, produced, collected, assembled, or
maintained under law or in connection with the transaction of
official business by the council or an officer or employee of the
council is subject to Section 552.008, Government Code, in the same
manner as public information.
Sec. 18.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. The council biennially shall
prepare a report that includes the evaluations and recommendations
required by Section 18.002. The council shall submit the report to
the legislature not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered
year.
Sec. 18.009. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW.
Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the council.
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, 2025.