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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement for commercially reasonable, long-term |
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contracts for renewable energy. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.904, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) To ensure that the goals of Subsection (a) are met, |
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the commission by rule shall require a retail electric provider, |
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municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative that purchases |
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renewable energy to enter into commercially reasonable long-term |
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contracts for that renewable energy. The commission by rule shall |
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determine the criteria for the commercial reasonableness of a |
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contract under this subsection. At a minimum, commission rules |
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shall require a contract to be for a term of 10 to 15 years. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a contract for renewable energy that is entered into on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A contract that is entered into before |
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the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in effect on |
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that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
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adopt rules consistent with Section 39.904(a-1), Utilities Code, as |
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added by this Act, not later than December 1, 2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |