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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
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regarding smart meter communication networks. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the |
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Public Utility Commission of Texas. |
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SECTION 2. SMART METER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS STUDY. (a) |
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The commission shall conduct a study on the use of smart meter |
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communication networks to improve response after a widespread power |
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outage. |
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(b) The study conducted under this section must: |
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(1) identify the costs of using or increasing the |
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communication capacity of smart meters to allow for remote power |
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disconnection and restoration; and |
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(2) assess the potential applications for curtailing |
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power to individual retail electric customers instead of entire |
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circuits in the event of a natural disaster or other |
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weather-related event that results in forced curtailment of power. |
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(c) In conducting the study, the commission may collaborate |
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with other state agencies, institutions of higher education, |
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nonprofit corporations, electric utilities, and other interested |
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persons. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the |
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commission shall report the results of the study conducted under |
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this Act and any recommendations to the legislature. The report |
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must include recommendations for any statutory changes necessary to |
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implement the recommendations made in the report. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2022. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |