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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the preparedness for extreme weather emergencies of |
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facilities that provide electricity service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 35.0021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 35.0021. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this |
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section, "extreme weather emergency" means a period when: |
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(1) the previous day's highest temperature did not |
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exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to |
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remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the |
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nearest National Weather Service reports; or |
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(2) the National Weather Service issues a heat |
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advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when |
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such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two |
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calendar days. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require each provider of |
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generation in the ERCOT power region to: |
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(1) implement measures to prepare generation |
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facilities to provide adequate electric generation service during |
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an extreme weather emergency; |
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(2) make reasonable efforts to prevent electric |
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generation service interruptions during an extreme weather |
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emergency; |
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(3) reestablish service in the shortest possible time |
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period after an electric generation service interruption that |
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occurs due to an extreme weather emergency; and |
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(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies |
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caused by electric generation service interruptions during extreme |
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weather emergencies, including issuing instructions to employees |
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on procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather |
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emergency. |
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(c) The rules must address electric generation service for |
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all neighborhoods, rural areas, communities of fewer than 1,000 |
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people, and low-income areas in the ERCOT power region. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.074. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this |
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section, "extreme weather emergency" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 35.0021. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require each electric |
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cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and |
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distribution utility providing transmission or distribution |
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service in the ERCOT power region to: |
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(1) implement measures to prepare facilities to |
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maintain service quality and reliability during an extreme weather |
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emergency; |
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(2) make reasonable efforts to prevent service |
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interruptions during an extreme weather emergency; |
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(3) reestablish service in the shortest possible time |
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period after a service interruption that occurs due to an extreme |
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weather emergency; and |
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(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies |
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caused by service interruptions during extreme weather |
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emergencies, including issuing instructions to employees on |
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procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather |
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emergency. |
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(c) The rules must address service for all neighborhoods, |
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rural areas, communities of fewer than 1,000 people, and low-income |
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areas in the ERCOT power region. |
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SECTION 3. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
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adopt the rules required by Sections 35.0021 and 38.074, Utilities |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 4. 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 September 1, 2021. |