Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB2546 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13385 SCR-D
2	2	By: Hancock S.B. No. 2546
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to establishing an advisory group to study potential means
10	10	to finance costs of development and maintenance of electric
11	11	transmission infrastructure.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "work group" means the
14	14	work group established under Section 2 of this Act.
15	15	SECTION 2. WORK GROUP. The Transmission Cost Funding Work
16	16	Group is composed of the following members:
17	17	(1) one representative of the Public Utility
18	18	Commission of Texas, appointed by the chair of the commission;
19	19	(2) one representative of the independent
20	20	organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code, for
21	21	the ERCOT power region, appointed by the chief executive officer of
22	22	the independent organization;
23	23	(3) two members of the Texas Senate, appointed by the
24	24	lieutenant governor;
25	25	(4) two members of the Texas House of Representatives,
26	26	appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
27	27	(5) one representative of the comptroller's office,
28	28	appointed by the comptroller; and
29	29	(6) the following members, appointed by the governor:
30	30	(A) one representative of the office of the
31	31	governor;
32	32	(B) one representative of a consumer advocacy
33	33	group;
34	34	(C) one representative of a renewable energy
35	35	organization; and
36	36	(D) one representative each of:
37	37	(i) the oil and gas industry;
38	38	(ii) an investor-owned electric utility;
39	39	(iii) a municipally owned electric utility;
40	40	and
41	41	(iv) an electric cooperative.
42	42	SECTION 3. STUDY. The work group shall conduct a study of
43	43	available means to finance the costs of development and maintenance
44	44	of electric transmission infrastructure that may help to ensure the
45	45	reliability, affordability, and long-term sustainability of the
46	46	Texas power grid. The study must be designed to:
47	47	(1) identify potential revenue sources, funding
48	48	mechanisms, and incentives that may be dedicated to those costs,
49	49	including:
50	50	(A) legislative appropriations;
51	51	(B) public-private partnerships;
52	52	(C) utility surcharges or fees;
53	53	(D) tax incentives;
54	54	(E) infrastructure investment programs; and
55	55	(F) reallocation of existing funds;
56	56	(2) assess the financial feasibility and long-term
57	57	sustainability of the revenue sources, funding mechanisms, and
58	58	incentives described by Subdivision (1) of this section;
59	59	(3) evaluate the potential effects of each of the
60	60	revenue sources, funding mechanisms, and incentives described by
61	61	Subdivision (1) of this section on consumers, utilities, and the
62	62	economy of this state; and
63	63	(4) compare and evaluate the revenue sources, funding
64	64	mechanisms, and incentives applied to those costs by other states.
65	65	SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the
66	66	work group shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
67	67	and the speaker of the house of representatives a written report
68	68	that includes:
69	69	(1) the findings of the study conducted under Section
70	70	3 of this Act; and
71	71	(2) any recommendations for legislative or other
72	72	action related to the funding of electric transmission projects.
73	73	SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027.
74	74	SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
75	75	immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members
76	76	elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas
77	77	Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
78	78	immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.