| 1 | 1 | | 89R9316 CXP-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Hancock S.B. No. 2984 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | poles. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 38, |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | SUBCHAPTER E. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE [REPORT] |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | amended by adding Section 38.103 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Sec. 38.103. DISTRIBUTION POLE PLAN. (a) Each electric |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | cooperative, electric utility, and municipally owned utility that |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | distributes electric energy to the public shall submit to the |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | commission a plan for the management and inspection of distribution |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | poles in the entity's distribution system. |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (b) Each plan submitted under Subsection (a) must include: |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (1) a statement of the plan's scope and objectives; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (2) the roles and responsibilities of individuals |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | responsible for overseeing and executing the plan; |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (3) a description of the cooperative's or utility's |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | processes for: |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (A) the management and inspection of |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | distribution poles on the entity's distribution system; and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (B) the training and certifying of personnel, |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | including third-party vendors, who inspect distribution poles; and |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (4) a proposed budget for implementing the plan. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (c) The commission shall approve, modify, or reject a plan |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | submitted to the commission under Subsection (a) not later than the |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | 180th day after the date the plan is submitted. |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | (d) At least once every three years, an entity to which this |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | section applies shall submit an update to the commission detailing |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | the entity's compliance with the plan's objectives and the costs of |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | implementing the plan. An electric utility may submit the update in |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | a report required under Section 38.101. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, each entity to |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | shall submit the plan required by that section to the Public Utility |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | Commission of Texas. |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|