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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a limitation on the generation capacity provided for |
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the ERCOT power grid from wind and solar generation facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 39.159, Utilities Code, as added by |
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Chapter 426 (S.B. 3), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2021, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding |
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Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission shall ensure that the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power |
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region: |
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(1) subject to Subsection (d), establishes |
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requirements to meet the reliability needs of the power region; |
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(2) periodically, but at least annually, determines |
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the quantity and characteristics of ancillary or reliability |
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services necessary to ensure appropriate reliability during |
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extreme heat and extreme cold weather conditions and during times |
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of low non-dispatchable power production in the power region; |
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(3) procures ancillary or reliability services on a |
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competitive basis to ensure appropriate reliability during extreme |
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heat and extreme cold weather conditions and during times of low |
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non-dispatchable power production in the power region; |
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(4) develops appropriate qualification and |
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performance requirements for providing services under Subdivision |
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(3), including appropriate penalties for failure to provide the |
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services; and |
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(5) sizes the services procured under Subdivision (3) |
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to prevent prolonged rotating outages due to net load variability |
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in high demand and low supply scenarios. |
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(d) Beginning January 1, 2027, notwithstanding any other |
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law, if the commission determines that installed generation |
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capacity from wind and solar generation facilities is contributing |
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more than 20 percent of the available generation capacity for the |
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ERCOT power region, the commission shall: |
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(1) prohibit the interconnection of new wind and solar |
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generation facilities to the power grid; and |
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(2) by rule establish standards for the disconnection |
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of wind and solar power facilities from the power grid to ensure |
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that wind and solar generation is not contributing more than 20 |
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percent of the available generation capacity for the ERCOT power |
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region at any time. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |