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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of natural gas and electric services in |
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this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.073 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.073. CRITICAL NATURAL GAS FACILITIES AND ENTITIES. |
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(a) The commission shall collaborate with the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas to adopt rules to establish a process to |
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designate certain natural gas facilities and entities associated |
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with providing natural gas in this state as critical customers or |
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critical gas suppliers during energy emergencies. |
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(b) The rules must: |
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(1) establish criteria for designating persons who own |
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or operate a facility under the jurisdiction of the commission |
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under Section 81.051(a) or engage in an activity under the |
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jurisdiction of the commission under Section 81.051(a) who must |
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provide critical customer and critical gas supply information, as |
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defined by the commission, to the entities described by Section |
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38.074(b)(1), Utilities Code; and |
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(2) consider essential operational elements when |
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defining critical customer designations and critical gas supply |
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information for the purposes of Subdivision (1), including natural |
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gas production, processing, and transportation, related produced |
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water handling and disposal facilities, and the delivery of natural |
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gas to generators of electric energy. |
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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. CRITICAL NATURAL GAS FACILITIES AND ENTITIES. |
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(a) The commission shall collaborate with the Railroad Commission |
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of Texas to adopt rules to establish a process to designate certain |
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natural gas facilities and entities associated with providing |
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natural gas in this state as critical during energy emergencies. |
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(b) The rules must: |
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(1) ensure that the independent organization |
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certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region and each |
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electric utility, municipally owned utility, and electric |
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cooperative providing service in the ERCOT power region is provided |
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with the information required by Section 81.073, Natural Resources |
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Code; |
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(2) provide for prioritizing for load-shed purposes |
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during an energy emergency the facilities and entities designated |
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under Subsection (a); and |
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(3) provide discretion to an electric utility, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative providing |
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service in the ERCOT power region to prioritize power delivery and |
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power restoration among the facilities and entities designated |
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under Subsection (a) on the utility's or cooperative's systems, as |
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circumstances require. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas and |
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Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt rules required by Section |
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81.073, Natural Resources Code, and Section 38.074, Utilities Code, |
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as added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2021. |
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(b) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall provide a |
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report to the legislature regarding the implementation by the |
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Public Utility Commission of Texas of the designation and |
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prioritization requirements in this Act not later than January 1, |
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2022. |
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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. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3648 was passed by the House on April |
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20, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 3648 on May 24, 2021, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 3648 on May 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, |
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Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3648 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 19, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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3648 on May 29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |