By: Rodriguez, Van de Putte S.B. No. 1586
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to distributed renewable generation of electricity.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), Section 39.916,
  Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows:
               (1)  "Distributed renewable generation" means electric
  generation [with a capacity of not more than 2,000 kilowatts]
  provided by a renewable energy technology, as defined by Section
  39.904:
                     (A)  with a capacity of not more than 2,000
  kilowatts[,] that is installed on a retail electric customer's side
  of the meter;
                     (B)  with a capacity of not more than five
  megawatts that is installed on a retail electric customer's side of
  the meter and is located on land or in a facility owned by this state
  or a school district; or
                     (C)  with a capacity of not more than 10 megawatts
  that is installed on land or in a facility owned by the federal
  government.
         SECTION 2.  Subsection (b), Section 39.916, Utilities Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A transmission and distribution utility or electric
  utility shall allow interconnection if:
               (1)  the distributed renewable generation to be
  interconnected has a five-year warranty against breakdown or undue
  degradation; [and]
               (2)  the rated capacity of the distributed renewable
  generation does not exceed the transmission and distribution
  utility or electric utility service capacity; and
               (3)  for distributed renewable generation described by
  Subsection (a)(1)(B) or (C), the commission has not made a finding
  that the interconnection of the generation will impair reliability
  or increase customer costs.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall adopt and
  implement rules as necessary to accommodate the interconnection of
  distributed renewable generation described by Paragraphs (B) and
  (C), Subdivision (1), Subsection (a), Section 39.916, Utilities
  Code, as added by this Act, to an electricity distribution system.
         SECTION 4.  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.