HBA-SEB H.B. 1782 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1782
By: Lewis, Ron
Energy Resources
3/3/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Historically, natural gas has been measured in two different ways, by cubic
feet or by British thermal units (BTUs).  H.B. 1782 allows a gas company to
report quantities of gas in whichever unit is readily available from the
company's reporting system.  Since federal law requires gas prices to be
measured in BTUs, this bill enables a gas company to measure gas in the
same unit of measure for both state and federal requirements. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 121.102, Subchapter C, Utilities Code, by adding
Subsection (7), as follows: 

(7)  Authorizes any requirement to report gas volumes or quantities
pursuant to this statute (Operator's Report) or another statute or rule to
be satisfied by reporting either the number of cubic feet or the number of
British thermal units as shown on the readily available books and records
of the reporting entity.  This section authorizes the Railroad Commission
of Texas (commission) to require a person or corporation that owns,
controls, or operates a gas pipeline to report  specific information about
the gas and the pipeline to the commission.   

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.