88R10513 JXC-F
 
  By: Hernandez H.B. No. 3239
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the participation of distributed energy resources in
  the ERCOT ancillary services and wholesale energy markets.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 31.002, Utilities Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (4-c) and amending Subdivisions (10) and (17) to
  read as follows:
               (4-c) "Distributed energy resource" means a resource
  that:
                     (A)  is capable of providing energy, providing
  ancillary services, or providing both energy and ancillary
  services;
                     (B)  is operated in parallel with and is connected
  to the distribution system at a voltage of less than 60 kilovolts;
  and
                     (C)  has an installed capacity of more than 100
  kilowatts and less than 10 megawatts.
               (10)  "Power generation company" means a person,
  including a person who owns or operates a distributed natural gas
  generation facility, that:
                     (A)  generates electricity:
                           (i)  that is intended to be sold at
  wholesale, including the owner or operator of electric energy
  storage equipment or facilities to which Subchapter E, Chapter 35,
  applies; or
                           (ii)  from a facility that is part of an
  aggregated distributed energy resource or that is owned by a person
  who is part of an aggregated distributed energy resource;
                     (B)  does not own a transmission or distribution
  facility in this state other than an essential interconnecting
  facility, a facility not dedicated to public use, or a facility
  otherwise excluded from the definition of "electric utility" under
  this section; and
                     (C)  does not have a certificated service area,
  although its affiliated electric utility or transmission and
  distribution utility may have a certificated service area.
               (17)  "Retail electric provider" means a person that
  sells electric energy to retail customers in this state. A retail
  electric provider may not own or operate generation assets but may
  aggregate distributed energy resources. The term does not include
  a person not otherwise a retail electric provider who owns or
  operates equipment used solely to provide electricity charging
  service for consumption by an alternatively fueled vehicle, as
  defined by Section 502.004, Transportation Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 39.351, Utilities Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read
  as follows:
         (b)  A power generation company shall comply with the
  reliability standards adopted by an independent organization
  certified by the commission to ensure the reliability of the
  regional electrical network for a power region in which the power
  generation company is generating or selling electricity and
  aggregated distributed energy resources.
         (c)  The commission may establish simplified filing
  requirements for distributed natural gas generation facilities and
  aggregated distributed energy resources.
         (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a):
               (1)  a facility or owner of a facility that is part of
  an aggregated distributed energy resource, or a retail electric
  provider that is involved in aggregating facilities as part of an
  aggregated distributed energy resource, is not considered to be a
  power generation company solely as a result of those activities;
  and
               (2)  a facility or owner of a facility that is part of
  an aggregated distributed energy resource is not required to
  register as a power generation company if the person who aggregates
  the resources registers as a power generation company.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.9166 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.9166.  PARTICIPATION OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY
  RESOURCES IN MARKET. (a) The commission may delegate authority to
  the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
  ERCOT power region to enforce requirements adopted by the
  commission under this section.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall allow a person who owns or
  operates a distributed energy resource or an aggregation of
  distributed energy resources to participate in the ancillary
  services and wholesale energy markets in the ERCOT power region if:
               (1)  the owner or operator is registered as a power
  generation company if required under Section 39.351 or is exempt
  from registration under Section 39.916(k); and
               (2)  the resource meets all requirements established by
  the commission and the independent organization, including
  electric utility specifications applicable under the
  commission-approved tariff.
         (c)  The commission by rule shall allow a person to aggregate
  resources that are geographically linked to the same electric bus
  or node so that the resources may be considered to be a single
  distributed energy resource for the purposes of operations,
  compliance, and participation in the ancillary services and
  wholesale energy markets in the ERCOT power region. The commission
  by rule shall direct the independent organization certified under
  Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region to enable aggregations
  broader than a single electric bus or node when technically
  feasible. In addition to any other applicable requirements,
  aggregated distributed energy resources must:
               (1)  demonstrate the ability to deploy energy,
  ancillary services, or both at the direction of the independent
  organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
  region; and 
               (2)  comply with applicable distribution system
  reliability and market requirements.
         (d)  In allowing for the participation of a person who owns
  or operates a distributed energy resource or aggregation of
  distributed energy resources under this section, the commission
  shall adopt registration, qualification, interconnection,
  telemetry, data submission, compliance, cost allocation, and other
  appropriate requirements. The requirements: 
               (1)  must ensure that:
                     (A)  participation does not unduly affect the
  security or reliability of the transmission and distribution
  system; and
                     (B)  the provision of ancillary services by a
  distributed energy resource or aggregation of distributed energy
  resources, to the extent technically necessary to the provision of
  ancillary services, can be measured and verified separately from
  any associated load;
               (2)  may differ from requirements for a generation
  resource that is not a distributed energy resource; and
               (3)  must provide for energy production and consumption
  at a single metering point to be accounted for and settled by the
  independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
  ERCOT power region to the distributed energy provider and the
  retail electric provider in a manner that prevents double counting.
         (e)  A retail electric provider may aggregate distributed
  energy resources or assist in the aggregation of distributed energy
  resources for a third party. The retail electric provider: 
               (1)  is not: 
                     (A)  considered to be a power generation company
  solely for that reason;
                     (B)  required to register as a power generation
  company; or
                     (C)  exempt from Chapter 17, this chapter, or
  commission rules relating to the aggregation; and
               (2)  is responsible for ensuring the compliance of a
  subcontractor, an agent, or any other entity compensated by the
  retail electric provider for aggregation services.
         (f)  Participation in an aggregated distributed energy
  resource by a market participant or consumer is subject to the
  commission's consumer protection rules, jurisdiction, and
  authority under this title.
         SECTION 4.  (a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
  adopt the rules required by Section 39.9166, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act to ensure that the requirements of Subsection (b) of
  this section are met.
         (b)  The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall allow the
  participation as required by Section 39.9166, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2024.
         (c)  The Public Utility Commission of Texas:
               (1)  may operate a pilot program to allow the
  participation described by Section 39.9166, Utilities Code, as
  added by this Act, before September 1, 2024; and
               (2)  before September 1, 2024, is not required to
  modify a pilot program operated before the effective date of this
  Act to allow the participation of distributed energy resources in
  the ancillary services and wholesale energy markets in the ERCOT
  power region.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2023.