By: Anchia H.B. No. 4562
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the extreme weather emergency preparedness of
  facilities providing gas or fuel to be used in the production of an
  electric service; requiring reporting.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.073 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.073.  WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.  (a) In this
  section, "extreme weather emergency" means a period when:
               (1)  the previous day's highest temperature did not
  exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to
  remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the
  nearest National Weather Service reports; or
               (2)  the National Weather Service issues a heat
  advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when
  such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two
  calendar 16 days.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require each provider of
  gas supply for generation in the ERCOT power region to:
               (1)  implement measures to prepare generation
  facilities, including weatherization protocols and standards, to
  provide adequate supply during an extreme weather emergency;
               (2)  make all reasonable efforts to prevent
  interruptions of gas supply during an extreme weather emergency;
               (3)  reestablish supply within the shortest possible
  time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather
  emergency; and
               (4)  make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies
  resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather
  emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on
  procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather
  emergency.
         (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect
  any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,
  communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.074 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.074.  REPORTING INCIDENTS. (a) In this section,
  "extreme weather emergency" has the meaning assigned by Section
  81.073, Natural Resources Code.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall require each provider of
  gas producers providing supply intended for generation in the ERCOT
  power region to:
               (1)  Register with the Transmission Distribution
  Utility serving the power for the location of the gas wellhead,
  equipment or facility, as critical infrastructure.
               (2)  Contact the Transmission Distribution Utility
  providing the power to the gas wellhead, equipment or facility
  within 4 hours after power is lost during an extreme weather
  emergency.
               (3)  Report outages of power to gas wellheads,
  equipment or a facility providing gas for supply of electric
  generation in the ERCOT region within 4 hours of notification or
  knowledge of power loss and during an extreme weather emergency;
         (c)  The commission shall require incident reports for power
  outages that result in a loss of gas supply intended for electric
  generation in the ERCOT market.
         (d)  The commission shall develop an electronic process of
  filing all incident reports.
         (e)  The commission shall provide immediate and free access
  to the reporting of incidents. This shall be provided on the
  commission website for viewing as reports are made.
         (f)  The commission shall develop the electronic reporting
  system and provide the website access by November 1, 2021. The
  information included shall begin with incident reports filed with
  the commission beginning January 1, 2021.
         SECTION 3.  The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt
  rules as required by Sections 81.073 and 81.074, Natural Resources
  Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2020.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.