Amend CSSB 1 (house committee printing) by inserting the following appropriately numbered provision following the Article VIII appropriations to the Public Utility Commission:

____.  Public Utility Commission Biennial Report. Detail in the biennial report required under Sec. 12.203, Utilities Code, whether ERCOT interconnection to Eastern and/or Western Interconnects and/or Mexico would protect and further the interest of the public. It is the intent of the legislature that the commission, out of the funds appropriated above to the Public Utility Commission, and to the extent permitted under general law, detail within its biennial report the benefits and costs associated with interconnecting ERCOT to other grids, including Eastern and Western Interconnects and Mexico. The report must determine: if reliability could be increased; the impact on customers' energy costs; the potential for economic development benefits to the state from exporting energy to other interconnects; and if ERCOT could remain independent of federal regulation if and when larger direct current ties are established than those that currently exist.