| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
|
|
to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain |
|
|
electric utilities and consumers. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 39.004 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 39.004. HIRING ASSISTANCE FOR REGIONAL PROCEEDINGS. |
|
|
(a) The commission may retain any consultant, accountant, auditor, |
|
|
engineer, or attorney the commission considers necessary to |
|
|
represent the commission in a proceeding before a regional |
|
|
transmission organization, or before a court reviewing proceedings |
|
|
of a regional transmission organization, related to: |
|
|
(1) the relationship of an electric utility to a power |
|
|
region, regional transmission organization, or independent system |
|
|
operator; |
|
|
(2) the approval of an agreement among an electric |
|
|
utility and the electric utility's affiliates concerning the |
|
|
coordination of the operations of the electric utility and the |
|
|
electric utility's affiliates; or |
|
|
(3) other matters related to an electric utility that |
|
|
may affect the ultimate rates paid by retail customers in this |
|
|
state. |
|
|
(b) Assistance for which a consultant, accountant, auditor, |
|
|
engineer, or attorney may be retained under Subsection (a) may |
|
|
include: |
|
|
(1) conducting a study; |
|
|
(2) conducting an investigation; |
|
|
(3) presenting evidence; |
|
|
(4) advising the commission; or |
|
|
(5) representing the commission. |
|
|
(c) The electric utility that is the subject of the |
|
|
proceeding shall pay timely the reasonable costs of the services of |
|
|
a person retained under Subsection (a), as determined by the |
|
|
commission. The total costs an electric utility is required to pay |
|
|
under this subsection may not exceed $1.5 million in a 12-month |
|
|
period. |
|
|
(d) The commission shall allow an electric utility to |
|
|
recover both the total costs the electric utility paid under |
|
|
Subsection (c) and the carrying charges for those costs through a |
|
|
rider established annually to recover the costs paid and carrying |
|
|
charges incurred during the preceding calendar year. The rider may |
|
|
not be implemented before the rider is reviewed and approved by the |
|
|
commission. |
|
|
(e) The commission shall consult the attorney general |
|
|
before the commission retains a consultant, accountant, auditor, or |
|
|
engineer under Subsection (a). The retention of an attorney under |
|
|
Subsection (a) is subject to the approval of the attorney general |
|
|
under Section 402.0212, Government Code. |
|
|
(f) The commission shall be precluded from engaging any |
|
|
individual who is required to register under Section 305.003, |
|
|
Government Code. |
|
|
(g) Notwithstanding Sections 39.402(a), 39.452(d), and |
|
|
39.502(b), this section applies to an electric utility to which |
|
|
Subchapter I, J, or K applies. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 4668 was passed by the House on May 6, |
|
|
2025, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 20, 1 present, not |
|
|
voting. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.B. No. 4668 was passed by the Senate on May |
|
|
25, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
APPROVED: _____________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
_____________________ |
|
|
Governor |