BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 2717 89R9526 ANG-F By: Menndez Business & Commerce 4/4/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT After Winter Storm Uri, both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation recommended improving energy efficiency for grid resiliency in the ERCOT power region. Since then, multiple reports commissioned by the American Council on Energy Efficiency (ACEE) have indicated that Texas could substantially improve the coordination and effectiveness of its demand-side programs. In addition, as part of their legislative recommendations in early 2023, the Public Utility Commission of Texas recommended the creation of a Texas Energy Efficiency Council. Currently, there is no single entity tasked with evaluating potential opportunities in energy efficiency and demand reduction to ensure a reliable, dependable, and affordable power supply for Texas. With hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds available to states like Texas for energy efficiency the state is in a unique position to stabilize the power grid and reduce risk and costs. Solution: S.B. 2717 seeks to create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council to foster collaboration, coordination, and communication. S.B. 2717 will enhance the state's demand-side and energy efficiency performance, and strategically utilize the state's resources to optimize the benefits of energy efficiency programs in Texas. As proposed, S.B. 2717 amends current law relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, by adding Chapter 18, as follows: CHAPTER 18. TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "council" and "energy efficiency program." Sec. 18.002. PURPOSE. Provides that the Texas Energy Efficiency Council (council) is a council established in the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to evaluate and make recommendations for certain matters. Sec. 18.003. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. (a) Provides that the council is composed of nine ex officio members, including the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the chief executive officer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the presiding officer of the PUC, the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas, the director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the executive director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, the chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, the director of the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M University System, and the chief executive of the Office of Public Utility Counsel. (b) Authorizes an ex officio member to designate a person from the member's agency to serve in the member's place. (c) Requires the presiding officer of the PUC or an employee designated by the presiding officer under Subsection (b) to serve as presiding officer of the council. (d) Requires the council to meet at least two times per year at the call of the presiding officer. Sec. 18.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. Requires the PUC to 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. Requires the council to use the following official Internet websites for the publication of information as required by this chapter: the website of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) and the website of the PUC. Sec. 18.006. LIST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. (a) Requires the council to: (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 SECO and the PUC 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) Requires SECO and the PUC to each provide a link on their Internet websites to the page described by Subsection (a)(2). Sec. 18.007. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) Provides that, except as provided by this section, the council is not subject to Chapter 551 (Open Meetings) or 552 (Public Information), Government Code. (b) Provides that 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 (Information for Legislative Purposes), Government Code, in the same manner as public information. Sec. 18.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. Requires the council biennially to prepare a report that includes the evaluations and recommendations required by Section 18.002. Requires the council to submit the report to the legislature not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year. Sec. 18.009. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW. Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the council. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 2717
89R9526 ANG-F By: Menndez
Business & Commerce
4/4/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 2717
89R9526 ANG-F
By: Menndez
Business & Commerce
4/4/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
After Winter Storm Uri, both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation recommended improving energy efficiency for grid resiliency in the ERCOT power region. Since then, multiple reports commissioned by the American Council on Energy Efficiency (ACEE) have indicated that Texas could substantially improve the coordination and effectiveness of its demand-side programs.
In addition, as part of their legislative recommendations in early 2023, the Public Utility Commission of Texas recommended the creation of a Texas Energy Efficiency Council. Currently, there is no single entity tasked with evaluating potential opportunities in energy efficiency and demand reduction to ensure a reliable, dependable, and affordable power supply for Texas. With hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds available to states like Texas for energy efficiency the state is in a unique position to stabilize the power grid and reduce risk and costs.
Solution:
S.B. 2717 seeks to create the Texas Energy Efficiency Council to foster collaboration, coordination, and communication. S.B. 2717 will enhance the state's demand-side and energy efficiency performance, and strategically utilize the state's resources to optimize the benefits of energy efficiency programs in Texas.
As proposed, S.B. 2717 amends current law relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, by adding Chapter 18, as follows:
CHAPTER 18. TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL
Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "council" and "energy efficiency program."
Sec. 18.002. PURPOSE. Provides that the Texas Energy Efficiency Council (council) is a council established in the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to evaluate and make recommendations for certain matters.
Sec. 18.003. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. (a) Provides that the council is composed of nine ex officio members, including the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the chief executive officer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the presiding officer of the PUC, the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas, the director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, the executive director of the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, the chairman of the Texas Water Development Board, the director of the Energy Systems Laboratory at the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M University System, and the chief executive of the Office of Public Utility Counsel.
(b) Authorizes an ex officio member to designate a person from the member's agency to serve in the member's place.
(c) Requires the presiding officer of the PUC or an employee designated by the presiding officer under Subsection (b) to serve as presiding officer of the council.
(d) Requires the council to meet at least two times per year at the call of the presiding officer.
Sec. 18.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. Requires the PUC to 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. Requires the council to use the following official Internet websites for the publication of information as required by this chapter: the website of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) and the website of the PUC.
Sec. 18.006. LIST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. (a) Requires the council to:
(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 SECO and the PUC 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) Requires SECO and the PUC to each provide a link on their Internet websites to the page described by Subsection (a)(2).
Sec. 18.007. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) Provides that, except as provided by this section, the council is not subject to Chapter 551 (Open Meetings) or 552 (Public Information), Government Code.
(b) Provides that 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 (Information for Legislative Purposes), Government Code, in the same manner as public information.
Sec. 18.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. Requires the council biennially to prepare a report that includes the evaluations and recommendations required by Section 18.002. Requires the council to submit the report to the legislature not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered year.
Sec. 18.009. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW. Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the council.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.