2015S0445-1 03/10/15
 
  By: Campbell S.B. No. 1826
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of the amount of installed electric
  generation capacity.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.001, Utilities Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The legislature finds that the production and sale of
  electricity is not a monopoly warranting regulation of rates,
  operations, and services and that the public interest in
  competitive electric markets requires that, except for
  transmission and distribution services and for the recovery of
  stranded costs, generation capacity and electric services and their
  prices should be determined by customer choices and the normal
  forces of competition. As a result, this chapter is enacted to
  protect the public interest during the transition to and in the
  establishment of a fully competitive electric power industry.
         (d-1)  The legislature finds that the amount of installed
  generation capacity is best determined by investor, generator, and
  customer choices through the normal forces of competition.  As a
  result, except as provided in Section 39.154, regulatory
  authorities shall not mandate or otherwise regulate the amount of
  installed generation capacity, including requiring a surplus or
  reserve of installed generation capacity above actual or forecasted
  levels of load.  Nothing in this subsection is intended to prevent
  the commission or an independent organization from exercising its
  responsibilities under Section 35.004(e).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.