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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
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to ensure the independent organization certified for the ERCOT |
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power region has adequate reserve power to prevent blackout |
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conditions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.166 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.166. ENSURING RESERVE POWER CAPACITY. (a) The |
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commission by rule shall develop a process for obtaining emergency |
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reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent |
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blackout conditions caused by shortages of generated power in the |
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ERCOT power region. The rules must provide: |
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(1) parameters for estimating the amount of emergency |
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reserve power generation capacity necessary to prevent blackout |
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conditions; and |
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(2) mechanisms for equitably sharing the costs of |
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making the reserve capacity available and the costs of generated |
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power provided to prevent blackout conditions. |
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(b) In accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (a), |
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an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the |
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ERCOT power region shall adopt procedures and enter contracts as |
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necessary to ensure the availability of a defined amount of |
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emergency reserve power generation capacity the organization may |
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call on to prevent blackouts caused by shortages of generated |
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power. |
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(c) Before the independent organization calls on the |
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emergency reserve power generation capacity to prevent blackout |
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conditions, the organization shall use all other sources of power |
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and demand reduction available in accordance with commission rules |
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adopted under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |