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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Disaster |
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Reliability Council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 184, Utilities code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS ENERGY DISASTER RELIABILITY COUNCIL |
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Sec. 186.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Council" means the Texas Energy Disaster |
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Reliability Council established under this subchapter; |
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(2) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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418.001 and includes an extended power outage; |
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(3) "Division" means the Texas Division on Emergency |
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Management; |
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(4) "Electric utility" means an entity, including a |
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river authority, electric cooperative, or municipally owned |
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utility, that: |
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(A) provides power generation service in this |
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state; or |
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(B) provides transmission or distribution |
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service in this state; |
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(5) "Extended power outage" means an interruption in |
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electric service lasting more than 24 hours. |
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(6) "Gas provider" means: |
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(A) a gas pipeline facility operator; or |
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(B) an operator of a gas well |
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(7) "Railroad Commission" means the Texas Railroad |
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Commission; |
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(8) "Utility Commission" means the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas. |
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Sec. 181.102. TEXAS ENERGY DISASTER RELIABILITY COUNCIL. |
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(a) The Texas Energy Disaster Reliability Council is established |
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under this subchapter to: |
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(1) prevent an extended power outage caused by a |
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disaster; |
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(2) implement procedures to manage emergencies caused |
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by a disaster; |
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(3) maintain records of critical infrastructure |
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facilities to maintain service in a disaster; |
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(4) coordinate the delivery of fuel to electric |
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generators in a disaster; |
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(5) monitor supply chains in the electric grid to |
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minimize service disruptions; and |
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(6) study and make recommendations on methods to |
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maintain reliability in the electric grid, including gas supply |
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networks, during a disaster. |
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Sec. 181.103. COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL. (a) The council |
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consists of: |
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(1) the chair of the utility commission; |
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(2) the executive director of the utility commission; |
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(3) the chair of the railroad commission; |
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(4) the executive director of the railroad commission; |
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(5) the chief executive officer of the independent |
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organization established by Section 39.151, Utilities Code; |
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(6) the chief of the division. |
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(b) The chief of the division shall serve as presiding |
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officer. |
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(c) The council shall hold semiannual meetings on the weeks |
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of March 1 and September 1 of each year. |
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(d) In addition to he meetings required by Subsection (b), |
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council shall convene as soon as reasonably possible during or |
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prior to a disaster to address an extended power outage caused by a |
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disaster in order coordinate fuel supplies and to minimize the |
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duration of the extended power outage. |
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(e) In carrying out its functions, the council may consult |
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and coordinate with: |
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(1) the United States Department of Energy; |
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(2) the United States Department of Homeland Security; |
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(3) the North American Electric Reliability |
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Corporation; |
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(4) the Texas Reliability Entity; |
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(5) federal and state agencies; |
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(6) members of the electric industry |
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(7) members of the gas industry; and |
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(8) grid security experts. |
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(f) An electric or gas utility shall provide any information |
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requested by the council. |
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(g) The meetings of the council and information obtained or |
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created by the council are not subject to the requirements of |
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Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code. |
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(h) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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council. |
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Sec. 186.104. REPORT. (a) Not later than November 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the legislature a |
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report on the reliability and stability of the electric supply |
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chain in the state. |
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(b) The council shall make recommendations on methods to |
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strengthen our electric supply chain and to decrease extended power |
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outages caused by a disaster. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |