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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of the maintenance of telephone and |
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electric utility poles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 5, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 252 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 252. UTILITY POLE SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE |
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Sec. 252.001. MAINTENANCE OF UTILITY POLES. (a) An |
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electric utility or telecommunications utility shall inspect: |
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(1) each wooden transmission pole in the utility's |
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service area for damage every two years; |
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(2) each wooden distribution pole in the utility's |
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service area for damage every eight years; and |
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(3) transmission circuits each year. |
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(b) On discovery of a damaged transmission or distribution |
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pole, an electric utility or telecommunications utility shall |
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replace the damaged pole with a metal pole. |
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(c) An electric utility or telecommunications utility shall |
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ensure that each utility pole located near a critical structure is a |
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metal pole. |
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(d) An electric utility or telecommunications utility shall |
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perform: |
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(1) an annual visual inspection of the utility's |
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transmission system; |
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(2) an annual infrared scan of the utility's |
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transmission system; |
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(3) an annual inspection of each distribution circuit; |
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and |
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(4) every five years, an inspection of the utility's |
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distribution system. |
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(e) An electric utility or telecommunications utility shall |
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establish a vegetation management cycle for the clearing of trees, |
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tree limbs, and other vegetative growth from utility line easements |
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and utility structures: |
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(1) annually, for vegetative growth located near a |
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transmission circuit; and |
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(2) every three years, for vegetative growth located |
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near a distribution line. |
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(f) The commission shall adopt rules to enforce this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |