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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study of the costs and benefits of burying |
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distribution power lines in certain metropolitan areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Public Utility Commission |
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of Texas. |
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(2) "Study areas" means the following regions: |
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(A) the Austin metropolitan area; |
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(B) the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; |
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(C) the Houston metropolitan area; and |
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(D) the San Antonio metropolitan area. |
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SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) during times of extreme weather, overhead |
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distribution power lines often take on significant damage; |
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(2) underground distribution power lines are more |
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resistant than overhead distribution power lines to extreme weather |
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conditions; and |
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(3) the cost of burying distribution power lines is |
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significant. |
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SECTION 3. STUDY. The commission shall evaluate in the |
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study areas each of the following for electric cooperatives, |
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investor-owned utilities, and municipally owned utilities: |
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(1) potential costs of burying existing overhead |
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distribution power lines, including costs that could be passed on |
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to ratepayers; |
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(2) potential costs of maintaining and repairing |
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underground distribution power lines; |
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(3) potential cost savings associated with reduced |
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power outages after burying distribution power lines; and |
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(4) anticipated effects of burying distribution power |
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lines on the environment, such as land use and water quality, on |
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public safety, and on emergency response. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. The commission shall submit a report of |
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the results of the study and any recommendations to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives |
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not later than December 31, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires January 31, |
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2027. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |