87R12723 BRG-D
 
  By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 4542
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to municipally owned utilities in ERCOT accessing
  transmission service and power at wholesale outside of ERCOT.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.159 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.159.  ACCESS TO WHOLESALE POWER AND TRANSMISSION
  SERVICE OUTSIDE ERCOT. Notwithstanding any other law, a
  municipally owned utility that transmits or distributes power
  purchased at wholesale in ERCOT may make requests, obtain
  approvals, enter into contracts, and construct facilities as
  necessary to:
               (1)  access transmission service from outside of ERCOT;
  and
               (2)  purchase power at wholesale from outside of ERCOT.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than November 1, 2022, the Public
  Utility Commission of Texas shall examine the laws and rules
  governing electric utilities in this state to determine how Section
  39.159, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, may affect the
  application of those laws and rules and shall adopt recommendations
  for legislative and administrative action as necessary to implement
  that section as effectively as practicable.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  Section 39.159, Utilities Code, as added by
  this Act, takes effect September 1, 2023.
         (b)  Section 2 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.