Amend SB 1752 by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering existing SECTIONS of the bill appropriately: SECTION __. Section 447.008, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows: (b) Using available state, federal, or oil overcharge funds, the energy management center may assist state agencies and institutions of higher education in analyzing and negotiating rates for electricity and natural gas supplies from locally certificated electric suppliers, natural gas suppliers, or state-owned energy resources, including transportation charges for natural gas. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to empower the energy management center to negotiate rates for natural gas supplies on behalf of state agencies or institutions but rather to provide technical assistance as needed. (d) Any state agency or institution of higher education with expertise in rate analysis, negotiation, or any other matter related to the procurement of electricity and natural gas supplies from locally certificated electric suppliers, natural gas suppliers, or state-owned energy resources may assist the energy management center whenever practicable. The attorney general on request shall assist the energy management center and other state agencies and institutions of higher education to negotiate rates for electricity and other terms of electric utility service. (f) The energy management center on request may negotiate rates for electricity and other terms of electric utility service for a state agency or institution of higher education. The energy management center may also negotiate the rates and the other terms of service for a group of agencies and institutions together in a single contract. (g) The energy management center shall analyze the rates for electricity charged to and the amount of electricity used by state agencies and institutions of higher education to determine ways the state could obtain lower rates and use less electricity. State agencies, including the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and institutions of higher education shall assist the energy management center to obtain the information the center requires to perform its analysis. (h) The energy management center and the attorney general shall cooperate in monitoring efforts to deregulate the electric utility industry and in reporting on the ways in which deregulation would affect state government as a purchaser of electricity. The energy management center, represented by the attorney general, may intervene in proceedings before the Public Utility Commission of Texas that are related to deregulating all or part of the electric utility industry to represent the interests of state government as a purchaser of electricity in those proceedings.