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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to ownership and use of mobile batteries to restore |
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electric service after a natural disaster in the ERCOT power |
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region. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 35.151, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 35.151. ELECTRIC ENERGY STORAGE. This subchapter |
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applies to the ownership or operation of electric energy storage |
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equipment or facilities that are intended to: |
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(1) provide energy or ancillary services at wholesale, |
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including electric energy storage equipment or facilities listed on |
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a power generation company's registration with the commission or, |
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for an exempt wholesale generator, on the generator's registration |
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with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; or |
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(2) provide reliable delivery of electric energy to |
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distribution customers after a natural disaster. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 35.153 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 35.153. MOBILE BATTERIES FOR RESTORING SERVICE AFTER |
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NATURAL DISASTER. (a) In this section, "natural disaster" means a |
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tropical storm or hurricane, ice storm or snow storm, flood, or |
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other weather-related event that results in a widespread electric |
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power outage affecting distribution customers of transmission and |
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distribution utilities. |
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(b) Notwithstanding a provision of this subtitle that |
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directly or indirectly prohibits a transmission and distribution |
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utility from owning or operating a generation asset, a transmission |
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and distribution utility, with prior approval of the commission, |
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may own and operate a mobile battery to provide electric energy to |
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restore service to distribution customers after a natural disaster. |
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(c) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement this section and establish criteria for approving the |
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ownership and operation of a mobile battery under this section. |
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SECTION 3. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall |
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adopt rules required by Section 35.153, Utilities Code, as added by |
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this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |