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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to demand response programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 17.003(d-1), Utilities Code, as added by |
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S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d-1) An electric utility providing electric delivery |
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service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section |
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31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the |
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retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail |
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electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to |
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the customers, information about: |
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(1) the electric utility's procedures for implementing |
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involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power |
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region; |
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(2) the types of customers who may be considered |
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critical care residential customers, critical load industrial |
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customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted |
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under Section 38.076; |
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(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be |
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considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load |
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industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules |
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adopted under Section 38.076; [and] |
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(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary |
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load shedding events may be implemented; and |
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(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial |
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customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program |
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through the electric utility or a demand response provider to |
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reduce electricity use during times of peak demand, including |
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during an involuntary load shedding event. |
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SECTION 2. Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, as added by |
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S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(f) A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide |
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with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information |
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about: |
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(1) the utility's procedure for implementing |
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involuntary load shedding; |
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(2) the types of customers who may be considered |
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critical care residential customers, critical load industrial |
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customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted |
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under Section 38.076; |
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(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be |
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considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load |
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industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules |
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adopted under Section 38.076; [and] |
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(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary |
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load shedding events may be implemented; and |
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(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial |
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customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program |
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through the utility or a demand response provider to reduce |
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electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an |
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involuntary load shedding event. |
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SECTION 3. Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, as added by |
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S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(f) An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with |
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bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information |
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about: |
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(1) the cooperative's procedure for implementing |
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involuntary load shedding; |
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(2) the types of customers who may be considered |
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critical care residential customers, critical load industrial |
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|
customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted |
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under Section 38.076; |
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(3) the procedure for a customer to apply to be |
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considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load |
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industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules |
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adopted under Section 38.076; [and] |
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(4) reducing electricity use at times when involuntary |
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load shedding events may be implemented; and |
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(5) the procedure for a residential or commercial |
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customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program |
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through the cooperative or a demand response provider to reduce |
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electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an |
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involuntary load shedding event. |
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SECTION 4. Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A customer is entitled: |
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(1) to be informed about rights and opportunities in |
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the transition to a competitive electric industry; |
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(2) to choose the customer's retail electric provider |
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consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to |
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assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed |
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without the customer's informed consent; |
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(3) to have access to providers of energy efficiency |
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services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of |
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energy generated by renewable energy resources; |
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(4) to be served by a provider of last resort that |
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offers a commission-approved standard service package; |
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(5) to receive sufficient information to make an |
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informed choice of service provider; |
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(6) to be protected from unfair, misleading, or |
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deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for |
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services that were not authorized or provided; [and] |
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(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of |
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disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission |
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and distribution utility; and |
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(8) to participate in demand response programs |
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through: |
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(A) retail electric providers; and |
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(B) demand response providers. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |