| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the prevention of and response to blackout conditions |
|
|
in the ERCOT power region. |
|
|
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. ENSURING RESERVE POWER CAPACITY. (a) The |
|
|
commission by rule shall develop a process for obtaining emergency |
|
|
reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent |
|
|
blackout conditions caused by shortages of generated power in the |
|
|
ERCOT power region. The rules must provide: |
|
|
(1) parameters for estimating the amount of emergency |
|
|
reserve power generation capacity necessary to prevent blackout |
|
|
conditions; and |
|
|
(2) mechanisms for equitably sharing the costs of |
|
|
making the reserve capacity available and the costs of generated |
|
|
power provided to prevent blackout conditions. |
|
|
(b) In accordance with rules adopted under Subsection (a), |
|
|
an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the |
|
|
ERCOT power region shall adopt procedures and enter contracts as |
|
|
necessary to ensure the availability of a defined amount of |
|
|
emergency reserve power generation capacity the organization may |
|
|
call on to prevent blackouts caused by shortages of generated |
|
|
power. |
|
|
(c) Before the independent organization calls on the |
|
|
emergency reserve power generation capacity to prevent blackout |
|
|
conditions, the organization shall use all other sources of power |
|
|
and demand reduction available in accordance with commission rules |
|
|
adopted under this section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 39.9031 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 39.9031. DISASTER BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. (a) The |
|
|
commission shall establish a program to provide bill payment |
|
|
assistance using state money appropriated for that purpose to |
|
|
retail customers of municipally owned utilities, electric |
|
|
cooperatives, and retail electric providers in the ERCOT power |
|
|
region. |
|
|
(b) The program must: |
|
|
(1) provide assistance only for unusually high bills |
|
|
for services provided after February 13, 2021, and before February |
|
|
19, 2021, to low-income customers; |
|
|
(2) establish criteria for determining whether a bill |
|
|
is unusually high; |
|
|
(3) allow a customer to apply for assistance to the |
|
|
municipally owned utility, electric cooperative, or retail |
|
|
electric provider that served the customer during the time period |
|
|
in Subdivision (1); and |
|
|
(4) require a municipally owned utility, electric |
|
|
cooperative, or retail electric provider that receives an |
|
|
application under Subdivision (3) to: |
|
|
(A) submit the application to the commission; and |
|
|
(B) provide to the customer any assistance sent |
|
|
by the commission to the utility, cooperative, or provider in |
|
|
response to the application. |
|
|
(c) The commission shall consult with the counsellor to |
|
|
adopt appropriate criteria for designating a customer as low-income |
|
|
for the purposes of this section. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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. |