By: Paddie H.B. No. 11
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the extreme weather emergency preparedness of
  facilities for providing electric service.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 35.0021 to read as follows:
         Sec. 35.0021.  WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this
  section, "extreme weather emergency" means a period when:
               (1)  the previous day's highest temperature did not
  exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to
  remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the
  nearest National Weather Service reports; or
               (2)  the National Weather Service issues a heat
  advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when
  such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two
  calendar days.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require each provider of
  generation in the ERCOT power region to:
               (1)  implement measures to prepare generation
  facilities to provide adequate electric generation service during
  an extreme weather emergency;
               (2)  make all reasonable efforts to prevent
  interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency;
               (3)  reestablish service within the shortest possible
  time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather
  emergency; and
               (4)  make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies
  resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather
  emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on
  procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather
  emergency.
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect
  any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,
  communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows:
         Sec. 38.074.  WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this
  section, "extreme weather emergency" has the meaning assigned by
  Subsection 35.0021(a), Utilities Code.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require each electric
  cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and
  distribution utility providing transmission or distribution
  service in the ERCOT power region to:
               (1)  implement measures to prepare facilities to
  maintain service quality and reliability during a weather emergency
               (2)  make all reasonable efforts to prevent
  interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency;
               (3)  reestablish service within the shortest possible
  time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather
  emergency; and
               (4)  make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies
  resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather
  emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on
  procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather
  emergency.
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect
  any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,
  communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.
         SECTION 3.  The public utility commission shall adopt rules
  as required by Sections 35.0021 and 38.074, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2020.
         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, 2021.