By: Hegar S.B. No. 1133

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to weatherization and preparedness reports by the Public Utility Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 186.0021 to read as follows:

Sec. 186.0021. WEATHERIZATION AND PREPAREDNESS REPORT. (a) To ensure reliability of electric service during extreme weather events, the commission, in consultation with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, shall prepare a report on the weatherization and preparedness of generators within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Subsequent reports shall be submitted only if significant changes to weatherization have occurred or are necessary to protect consumers, vital services or if there have been changes to statute or rule relating to weatherization requirements. In preparing the report, the commission shall:

(1) review the weatherization plans currently on file with the commission;

(2) analyze and determine whether such plans are adequate to ensure reliability of the electric grid for the upcoming summer or winter;

(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the upcoming summer or winter as forecasted by the National Weather Service or any similar state or national agency; and

(4) make recommendations as to how weatherization procedures can be improved to carry out the policies stated in this section.

(b) In reviewing a weatherization plan described by Subsection (a) and to further the policies stated in this chapter, the commission, on finding that a weatherization plan on file is lacking in sufficient detail to determine its adequacy, shall require a generator to file an updated report containing sufficient detail.

(c) The commission shall finalize and publish the report described by Subsection (a):

(1) not later than March 1st of each year for the summer weatherization and preparedness report; and

(2) not later than September 1st of each year for the winter weatherization and preparedness report.

(d) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the implementation of the report described by Subsection (a) and any other rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of the report.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, the weatherization plans of generators considered in the publication of the report described by Subsection (a) are not confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.