Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 415	Senate Author:  Hancock
Effective:  9-1-21	House Sponsor:  Holland et al.

Senate Bill 415 amends provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Act, Utilities Code, governing electric energy storage equipment or facilities that are intended to provide energy or ancillary services at wholesale on the generator's registration with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to make the provisions applicable only to the ownership or operation of such equipment or facilities in the ERCOT power region. The bill expands the applicability of those provisions by setting out contracting guidelines that would allow a transmission and distribution utility that has received prior approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to provide electric energy from an electric energy storage facility to ensure reliable service to distribution customers. The bill prohibits the PUC from authorizing ownership of a storage facility by a transmission and distribution utility.