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| 3 | 5 | | |
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| 4 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 7 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 8 | | relating to the use of grid enhancing technologies and |
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| 7 | 9 | | high-performance conductors in the ERCOT power region. |
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| 8 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 36, Utilities Code, is |
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| 10 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 36.216 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 13 | | Sec. 36.216. GRID ENHANCING TECHNOLOGIES AND |
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| 12 | 14 | | HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONDUCTORS. (a) In this section: |
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| 13 | 15 | | (1) "Advanced power flow controller" means hardware |
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| 14 | 16 | | and software used to reroute electric energy from overloaded |
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| 15 | 17 | | transmission lines to underutilized transmission corridors by |
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| 16 | 18 | | adjusting circuit impedance. |
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| 17 | 19 | | (2) "Dynamic line rating system" means hardware or |
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| 18 | 20 | | software used to calculate the true capacity of transmission lines |
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| 19 | 21 | | using real-time and forecasted weather conditions. |
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| 20 | 22 | | (3) "Grid enhancing technology" means any hardware or |
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| 21 | 23 | | software technology that enables enhanced or more efficient |
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| 22 | 24 | | performance from the electric transmission system, including a |
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| 23 | 25 | | dynamic line rating system, advanced power flow controller |
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| 24 | 26 | | technology, dynamic contingency response, or a topology |
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| 25 | 27 | | optimization system or another technology identified by the |
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| 26 | 28 | | independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the |
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| 27 | 29 | | ERCOT power region. |
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| 28 | 30 | | (4) "High-performance conductors" means modern |
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| 29 | 31 | | conductor technologies, including carbon and composite core |
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| 30 | 32 | | conductors and carbon and composite superconductors, with greater |
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| 31 | 33 | | performance characteristics than aluminum-conductor |
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| 32 | 34 | | steel-reinforced conductors, such as increased capacity, higher |
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| 33 | 35 | | efficiency, and reduced or no thermal sag. |
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| 34 | 36 | | (5) "Topology optimization system" means software |
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| 35 | 37 | | technology that identifies reconfigurations of the transmission |
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| 36 | 38 | | grid to reroute electric energy from overloaded lines to |
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| 37 | 39 | | underutilized corridors. |
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| 38 | 40 | | (b) The commission shall ensure that the independent |
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| 39 | 41 | | organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code, for |
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| 40 | 42 | | the ERCOT power region considers the technical feasibility and |
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| 41 | 43 | | cost-effectiveness using of grid enhancing technologies and |
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| 42 | 44 | | high-performance conductors in its evaluation of economic and |
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| 43 | 45 | | reliability projects during annual regional transmission planning |
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| 44 | 46 | | to increase transmission capacity, reduce transmission system |
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| 45 | 47 | | congestion, increase electric reliability, and reduce the risk of |
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| 46 | 48 | | wildfires. The independent organization may decline to recommend |
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| 47 | 49 | | the use of grid enhancing technologies in a particular instance it |
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| 48 | 50 | | determines that it would not be prudent. |
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| 49 | 51 | | SECTION 2. (a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
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| 50 | 52 | | adopt any necessary rules required by Section 36.216, Utilities |
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| 51 | 53 | | Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2026. |
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| 52 | 54 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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