BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1076

By: King

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Public Utility Commission of Texas is required by law to process an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity (CCN) for most new transmission projects within a year. The turnaround time for projects deemed to be critical to reliability are processed on a 180‑day timeline. The current 365-day processing timeline for most CCNs is misaligned with the desired development timeline for electric transmission to meet customers' needs and to support the reliability needs of ERCOT, particularly in light of the increased demand on the electricity grid in Texas in recent years. Reducing the existing 365-day timeline to 180 days for all projects would better serve the interest of the state in ensuring adequate supplies of electricity at all times. S.B. 1076 seeks to reduce the turnaround time for all CCNs to 180 days.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1076 amends the Utilities Code to expedite the processing of applications for certificates of convenience and necessity for new transmission facilities by changing the general deadline for the Public Utility Commission of Texas to approve or deny such an application from the first anniversary of the date the application is filed to the 180th day after that filing date. The bill applies only to a proceeding affecting such a certificate that commences on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.