By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 114
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power
  region.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A customer is entitled:
               (1)  to be informed about rights and opportunities in
  the transition to a competitive electric industry;
               (2)  to choose the customer's retail electric provider
  consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to
  assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed
  without the customer's informed consent;
               (3)  to have access to providers of energy efficiency
  services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of
  energy generated by renewable energy resources;
               (4)  to be served by a provider of last resort that
  offers a commission-approved standard service package;
               (5)  to receive sufficient information to make an
  informed choice of service provider;
               (6)  to be protected from unfair, misleading, or
  deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for
  services that were not authorized or provided; [and]
               (7)  to have an impartial and prompt resolution of
  disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission
  and distribution utility;
               (8)  to participation in demand response programs
  through retail electric providers that offer demand response
  programs; and
               (9)  to receive notice from the retail electric
  provider that serves the customer when the independent organization
  certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region issues an
  emergency energy alert.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.919 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.919.  AVERAGE TOTAL RESIDENTIAL LOAD REDUCTION
  GOALS. (a)  The commission by rule shall establish goals in the
  ERCOT power region to reduce the average total residential load.
         (b)  The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must provide for
  the adoption of a program that:
               (1)  provides demand response participation to
  residential customers where reasonably available;
               (2)  promotes the use of smart metering technology;
               (3)  is capable of responding to an emergency energy
  alert about low operating reserves issued by the independent
  organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
  region;
               (4)  provides opportunities for demand response
  providers to contract with retail electric providers to provide
  demand response services;
               (5)  ensures the program does not impact the critical
  needs of vulnerable populations;
               (6)  facilitates the widespread deployment of smart
  responsive appliances and devices in a manner that enables the
  customer's appliance or device to be enrolled as part of a demand
  response product or plan offered by a retail electric provider;
               (7)  establishes the method by which the components of
  the ratio described by Subsection (c) are calculated for purposes
  of determining whether the goals described by Subsection (a) have
  been achieved;
               (8)  provides for achievement of demand reductions
  within both summer and winter seasons; and
               (9)  allows a retail electric provider that offers a
  demand response program under this section to obtain funding for
  the demand response program through an energy efficiency incentive
  program established under Section 39.905.
         (c)  The goals described by Subsection (a) must be calculated
  as a ratio by dividing the amount of load reduced at peak demand by
  the total amount of demand, at the same time, of all residential
  customers who have responsive appliances or devices at their
  premises that reduce the electric consumption of the customers.
         SECTION 3.  The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
  adopt rules as necessary for the adoption of a program to begin
  facilitating the widespread deployment of appliances and devices
  capable of being part of a demand response product or plan offered
  by a retail electric provider, as provided by Section 39.919(b)(6),
  Utilities Code, as added by this Act, before December 31, 2024.
         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, 2023.