89R10085 ANG-D
By: Hancock S.B. No. 2980
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and
the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an
operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or
certain surface facilities in accordance with the National
Electrical Code.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 91.019. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND
MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall
construct, operate, and maintain an electrical power line serving a
well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident
to oil and gas development and production in accordance with the
National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection
Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and
Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code.
(b) If, during an inspection of a well site or surface
facility employed in operations incident to oil and gas development
and production, the commission discovers a condition involving an
electrical power line that does not meet the standards described by
Subsection (a), the commission shall notify the Public Utility
Commission of Texas. To resolve the condition, the commission and
the Public Utility Commission of Texas, in collaboration, shall:
(1) notify the applicable electric utility providing
electric power to the well site or surface facility of the condition
and require the electric utility to make a determination regarding
whether electric power should be disconnected from the site or
facility;
(2) request that the state fire marshal or a local
government authority inspect the well site or surface facility and
require the operator to mitigate any dangerous conditions
identified by the state fire marshal or local government authority;
or
(3) issue notice to the applicable electric utility to
investigate the condition and disconnect electric service, if
necessary.
SECTION 2. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, as
amended by this Act, applies to an inspection that occurs on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.