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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reports by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on the |
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ability of electric generators to respond to abnormal weather |
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conditions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 186.007, Utilities Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 186.007. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REPORTS |
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[REPORT]. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 186.007(a-1), (b), (d), (e), and (f), |
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Utilities Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The commission shall analyze emergency operations |
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plans developed by electric utilities as defined by Section 31.002, |
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power generation companies, municipally owned utilities, and |
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electric cooperatives that operate generation facilities in this |
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state and prepare a weather emergency preparedness report on power |
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generation weatherization preparedness. In preparing the report, |
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the commission shall: |
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(1) review the emergency operations plans currently on |
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file with the commission; |
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(2) analyze and determine the ability of the electric |
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grid to withstand extreme weather events in the upcoming year, |
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including weather events that have only a one percent or two percent |
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chance of occurring in the upcoming year; |
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(3) consider the anticipated weather patterns for the |
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upcoming year as forecasted by the National Weather Service or any |
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similar state or national agency; and |
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(4) make recommendations on improving emergency |
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operations plans and procedures in order to ensure the continuity |
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of electric service. |
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(b) The commission shall [may] require an electric |
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generation entity subject to this section to file an updated |
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emergency operations plan if it finds that an emergency operations |
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plan on file does not contain adequate information to determine |
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whether the electric generation entity can provide adequate |
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electric generation services. |
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(d) The commission shall submit the report described by |
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Subsection (a-1) to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the members of the legislature not |
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later than September 30 of each year [, 2012]. |
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(e) The commission may submit additional [subsequent] |
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weather emergency preparedness reports if the commission finds that |
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significant changes to weatherization techniques have occurred or |
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are necessary to protect consumers or vital services, or if there |
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have been changes to statutes or rules relating to weatherization |
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requirements. A report under this subsection must be submitted not |
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later than: |
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(1) March 1 for a summer weather emergency |
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preparedness report; and |
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(2) September 1 for a winter weather emergency |
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preparedness report. |
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(f) The emergency operations plans submitted for a [the] |
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report described by Subsection (a-1) and any additional |
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[subsequent] plans submitted under Subsection (e) are public |
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information except for the portions of the plan considered |
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confidential under Chapter 552, Government Code, or other state or |
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federal law. If portions of a plan are designated as confidential, |
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the plan shall be provided to the commission in a redacted form for |
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public inspection with the confidential portions removed. An |
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electric generation entity within the ERCOT power region shall |
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provide the entity's plan to ERCOT in its entirety. |
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SECTION 3. The first report described by Section |
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186.007(a-1), Utilities Code, as amended by this Act, is due |
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September 30, 2021. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |