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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to weatherization and preparedness reports by the Public |
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Utility Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 186, Utilities Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 186.0021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 186.0021. WEATHERIZATION AND PREPAREDNESS REPORT. |
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(a) To ensure reliability of electric service during extreme |
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weather events, the commission, in consultation with the Electric |
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Reliability Council of Texas, shall prepare a report on the |
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weatherization and preparedness of generators within the Electric |
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Reliability Council of Texas. Subsequent reports shall be |
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submitted only if significant changes to weatherization have |
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occurred or are necessary to protect consumers, vital services or |
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if there have been changes to statute or rule relating to |
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weatherization requirements. In preparing the report, the |
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commission shall: |
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(1) review the weatherization plans currently on file |
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with the commission; |
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(2) analyze and determine whether such plans are |
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adequate to ensure reliability of the electric grid for the |
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upcoming summer or winter; |
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(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the |
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upcoming summer or winter as forecasted by the National Weather |
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Service or any similar state or national agency; and |
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(4) make recommendations as to how weatherization |
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procedures can be improved to carry out the policies stated in this |
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section. |
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(b) In reviewing a weatherization plan described by |
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Subsection (a) and to further the policies stated in this chapter, |
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the commission, on finding that a weatherization plan on file is |
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lacking in sufficient detail to determine its adequacy, shall |
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require a generator to file an updated report containing sufficient |
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detail. |
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(c) The commission shall finalize and publish the report |
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described by Subsection (a): |
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(1) not later than March 1st of each year for the |
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summer weatherization and preparedness report; and |
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(2) not later than September 1st of each year for the |
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winter weatherization and preparedness report. |
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(d) The commission shall adopt rules relating to the |
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implementation of the report described by Subsection (a) and any |
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other rules necessary to accomplish the purposes of the report. |
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(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, the |
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weatherization plans of generators considered in the publication of |
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the report described by Subsection (a) are not confidential or |
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otherwise exempt from disclosure under Chapter 552, Government |
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Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |