By: Nichols  S.B. No. 349
         (In the Senate - Filed February 4, 2013; February 5, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Business and Commerce;
  February 13, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 9, Nays 0; February 13, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to standards for power lines.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 181.041, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivisions (3) and (4) to read as follows:
               (3)  "Distribution line" means a power line operated
  below 60,000 volts when measured phase to phase.
               (4)  "Transmission line" means a power line operated at
  60,000 volts or more when measured phase to phase.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (a), Section 181.045, Utilities Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A municipal electric utility shall construct, operate,
  and maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines [for the
  transmission and distribution of electric energy] along highways
  and at other places in accordance with the national electrical
  safety code. With regard to clearances, an electric utility that is
  not a municipal electric utility shall construct, operate, and
  maintain its transmission lines and distribution lines [for the
  transmission and distribution of electric energy] along highways
  and at other places in accordance with the national electrical
  safety code.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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