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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities |
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for providing electric service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 35.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 35.0025. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) |
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The commission by rule shall establish best practices and |
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procedures for providers of generation in the ERCOT power region |
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for: |
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(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment, |
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personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for |
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extreme weather events; |
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(2) plant design for new plants and modifications to |
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existing plants to ensure the plants can operate at the lowest |
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recorded ambient temperature for the nearest municipality for which |
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historical data is available; |
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(3) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze |
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protection elements; |
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(4) heat tracing; |
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(5) thermal insulation; |
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(6) the erection of adequate windbreaks and |
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enclosures; |
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(7) annual winter-specific and plant-specific |
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operator awareness and maintenance training; |
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(8) prioritizing winter preparation each fall; |
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(9) establishing personnel accountability and audit |
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procedures; and |
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(10) updating facility procedures at least annually as |
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needed. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require each provider of |
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generation in the ERCOT power region to: |
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(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as |
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necessary a plan for: |
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(A) using the best practices and procedures to |
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provide adequate electric generation service during a winter |
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weather emergency; |
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(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance |
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for freeze protection elements; |
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(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before |
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and during the winter; |
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(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection |
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elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required |
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maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and |
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(E) making any needed repairs or improvements |
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before the next winter; and |
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(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision |
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(1). |
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(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of |
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providers of generation for compliance with rules adopted under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.074. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) |
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The commission by rule shall establish best practices and |
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procedures for electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, |
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and transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission |
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or distribution service in the ERCOT power region for: |
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(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment, |
|
personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for |
|
extreme weather events; |
|
(2) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze |
|
protection elements; |
|
(3) heat tracing; |
|
(4) thermal insulation; |
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(5) the erection of adequate windbreaks and |
|
enclosures; |
|
(6) annual winter-specific operator awareness and |
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maintenance training; |
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(7) prioritizing winter preparation each fall; |
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(8) establishing personnel accountability and audit |
|
procedures; and |
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(9) updating facility procedures at least annually as |
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needed. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require each electric |
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cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and |
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distribution utility providing transmission or distribution |
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service in the ERCOT power region to: |
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(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as |
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necessary a plan for: |
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(A) using the best practices and procedures to |
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maintain service quality and reliability during a winter weather |
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emergency; |
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(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance |
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for freeze protection elements; |
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(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before |
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and during the winter; |
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(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection |
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elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required |
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maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and |
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(E) making any needed repairs or improvements |
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before the next winter; and |
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(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision |
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(1). |
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(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of |
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electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, and |
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transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission or |
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distribution service in the ERCOT power region for compliance with |
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rules adopted under this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |