| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to chilled water service and district cooling systems. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 11.003, Utilities Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subdivision (8-a) and amending Subdivision (11) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(8-a) "District cooling system" means a system that |
|
|
produces chilled water at a central plant and pipes that water to |
|
|
buildings for air conditioning. |
|
|
(11) "Municipally owned utility" means a utility owned, |
|
|
operated, and controlled by a municipality or by a nonprofit |
|
|
corporation the directors of which are appointed by one or more |
|
|
municipalities and includes any district cooling system operated by |
|
|
the utility. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 552.133 (a-1)(2), Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Subdivision (P) to read as follows: |
|
|
(P) information related to a chilled water program |
|
|
or program designed to used chilled water to reduce peak demand. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 552.113 (b), Government Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) Information or records are excepted from the |
|
|
requirements of Section 552.021 if the information or records are |
|
|
reasonably related to a competitive matter, as defined in this |
|
|
section. Information or records of a municipally owned utility |
|
|
that are reasonably related to a competitive matter are not subject |
|
|
to disclosure under this chapter, whether or not, under the |
|
|
Utilities Code, the municipally owned utility has adopted customer |
|
|
choice or serves in a multiply certificated service area. This |
|
|
section does not limit the right of a public power utility governing |
|
|
body to withhold from disclosure information deemed to be within |
|
|
the scope of any other exception provided for in this chapter, |
|
|
subject to the provisions of this chapter. Information reasonably |
|
|
related to a municipally owned utility's rate review process and |
|
|
how the municipality or municipally owned utility sets rates for |
|
|
electric service and chilled water service or any other service |
|
|
designed by the municipality or municipally owned utility to curb |
|
|
peak demand or shift load are subject to disclosure under this |
|
|
chapter and are not excepted from disclosure under this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |