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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the extreme weather emergency preparedness of |
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facilities for providing electric 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 all reasonable efforts to prevent |
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interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency; |
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(3) reestablish service within the shortest possible |
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time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather |
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emergency; and |
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(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies |
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resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather |
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emergency, including issuing instructions to its 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 adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect |
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any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas, |
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communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas. |
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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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Subsection 35.0021(a), Utilities Code. |
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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 a weather emergency |
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(2) make all reasonable efforts to prevent |
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interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency; |
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(3) reestablish service within the shortest possible |
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time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather |
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emergency; and |
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(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies |
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resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather |
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emergency, including issuing instructions to its 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 adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect |
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any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas, |
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communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas. |
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SECTION 3. The public utility commission shall adopt rules |
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as required by Sections 35.0021 and 38.074, Utilities Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2020. |
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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. |