BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 712
79R13290 E By: Carona
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
C.S.S.B. 712 encourages and facilitates the adoption of emerging energy and information-related technologies that either reduce overall energy consumption or reduce consumption at peak times by proposing modified efficiency goals. The bill will permanently retire old, inefficient household appliances from the market by safely recycling them. Finally, C.S.S.B. 712 requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas to establish market transformation programs for schools and homeowners.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 39.905, Utilities Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.905, Utilities Code, as follows:
Sec. 39.905. GOAL FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY. (a) Sets forth modified goals of the legislature relating to energy efficiency.
(b) Requires the Public Utility Commission of Texas (commission) to provide oversight and adopt rules and procedures, as necessary, to ensure that the utilities can achieve the goal of this section. Deletes existing text requiring the goal to be met by January 1, 2004.
(c) Requires a standard offer program under Subsection (a)(3) to be neutral with respect to technologies, equipment, and fuels, including thermal, chemical, mechanical, and electrical energy storage technologies.
(d) Requires the commission to adopt certain market transformation program options that the utilities are authorized to choose in order to satisfy the goal in Subsection (a)(3).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.