BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1864

By: Wu

Energy Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that recently the Texas Legislature passed certain disaster preparedness and emergency management bills that included a requirement that a combined heating and power system evaluation be performed when constructing or extensively renovating certain critical governmental buildings and facilities. A combined heating and power system is an on-site energy system using underground natural gas lines that will keep power on during and after a disaster or power outage. H.B. 1864 seeks to simplify existing requirements and clarify compliance in regard to a combined heating and power system evaluation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1864 amends Chapter 2311, Government Code, as added by Chapter 1280 (H.B. 1831), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, to expand the definition of "critical governmental facility" to include an institution of higher education among the buildings that are expected to serve a critical public health or public safety function during a natural disaster or other emergency situation that may result in a widespread power outage. The bill requires the State Energy Conservation Office to establish guidelines for the evaluation to determine, during the construction or extensive renovation of a critical governmental facility or the replacement of major heating, ventilation, or air-conditioning equipment for such a facility, whether equipping such a facility with a combined heating and power system would result in expected energy savings that would exceed certain expected costs.

H.B. 1864 repeals Chapter 2311, Government Code, as added by Chapter 1408 (H.B. 4409), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.