LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 19, 2007

TO:	Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Regulated Industries
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2848 by Anderson (Relating to creating a task force to review electric energy generation policies and certain permits for operation of electric generation facilities and to study the state's long-term demand for electric generation capacity.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Utilities Code by creating the electric energy and environmental impact task force (task force), which is composed of representatives from certain governmental agencies. The bill would require the Public Utility Commission (PUC), before issuing a permit for the operation of an electric generation facility, to submit a copy of the application to the task force and would prohibit the PUC from granting a permit if the task force determines the issuance is not necessary to meet the state's demand for electric generation capacity.

Based on the analysis of the PUC, the Texas Water Development Board, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.

This bill would take effect immediately upon receiving a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each house or would otherwise take effect on September 1, 2007. 

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, JRO, MW, KJG, TGl