Amend CSSB 3 (house committee printing) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:

SECTION ____.  STUDY OF INVOLUNTARY LOAD SHEDDING UPGRADES. (a) In this section, "electric distribution utility" includes:

(1)  a transmission and distribution utility, as that term is defined by Section 31.002, Utilities Code;

(2)  a municipally owned utility; and

(3)  an electric cooperative.

(b)  Not later than 180 days after the effective date of this Act, the Public Utility Commission of Texas shall:

(1)  conduct a study on the feasibility of requiring each electric distribution utility to:

(A)  install and connect to an information network, for each customer, an advanced meter capable of allowing the utility to shut off the customer's power when involuntary load shedding is necessary; and

(B)  develop or acquire the equipment and software necessary to shut off a customer's power in the event of involuntary load shedding by using advanced meters;

(2)  prepare a report with the results of the study and recommendations for achieving:

(A)  the deployment of advanced meters in this state for the purpose of involuntary load shedding; and

(B)  the development or acquisition of equipment and software by electric distribution utilities for the purpose of involuntary load shedding using advanced meters; and

(3)  issue the report to:

(A)  the governor;

(B)  the lieutenant governor;

(C)  the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(D)  each member of the legislature.