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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration of virtual currency mining facilities |
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in the ERCOT power region that demand a large load of interruptible |
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power. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 39.360 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 39.360. LARGE FLEXIBLE LOAD REGISTRATION. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Virtual currency" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 12.001, Business & Commerce Code. |
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(2) "Virtual currency mining facility" means a |
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facility that uses electronic equipment to add virtual currency |
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transactions to a distributed ledger. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall require a person operating |
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a virtual currency mining facility who enters into an agreement for |
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retail electric service in the ERCOT power region to register the |
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facility receiving service as a large flexible load under this |
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section if: |
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(1) the person anticipates that the facility will |
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require a total load of more than 75 megawatts before the second |
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anniversary of the date the agreement begins; and |
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(2) the facility load is interruptible. |
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(c) The rules must require a person described by Subsection |
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(b) to: |
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(1) register the large flexible load with the |
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commission not later than one business day after the date the |
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agreement begins; and |
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(2) provide the commission with: |
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(A) the location of the facility; and |
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(B) the anticipated demand from the facility for |
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the five-year period beginning on the date of the registration. |
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(d) The commission by rule shall: |
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(1) adopt criteria for determining whether a load is |
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interruptible for the purposes of this section based on whether it |
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is possible for the facility operator to choose to interrupt the |
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load; and |
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(2) establish a method to ensure compliance with this |
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section. |
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(e) The commission may share with an independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 registration |
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information received under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |