Honorable Kelly Hancock, Chair, Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB787 by Parker (Relating to the security of the electric grid.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Utilities Code relating to the security of the electric grid. The bill would establish the Electric Grid Security Advisory Committee. The Committee is required to study critical infrastructure and its vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse, geomagnetic disturbances, and cybersecurity threats, and to report its findings and any recommendations by December 1, 2018 to the governor. Should the legislature, in consultation with the governor, determine based on the Committee's findings that upgrades to the electric grid are necessary, it shall determine whether upgrades will be funded by appropriating General Revenue Funds, through a ratepayer cost recovery mechanism, or a combination of the two.
Based on information provided by the Public Utility Commission, Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Office of the Governor, it is assumed that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Local Government Impact
According to the Texas Municipal League, no fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
300 Trusteed Programs Within the Office of the Governor, 473 Public Utility Commission of Texas, 475 Office of Public Utility Counsel, 301 Office of the Governor