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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and |
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the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an |
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operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or |
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certain surface facilities in accordance with the National |
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Electrical Code. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 91.019. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND |
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MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall |
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construct, operate, and maintain an electrical power line serving a |
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well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident |
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to oil and gas development and production in accordance with the |
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National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection |
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Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and |
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Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code. |
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(b) If, during an inspection of a well site or surface |
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facility employed in operations incident to oil and gas development |
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and production, the commission discovers a condition involving an |
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electrical power line that does not meet the standards described by |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall notify the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas. To resolve the condition, the commission and |
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the Public Utility Commission of Texas, in collaboration, shall: |
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(1) notify the applicable electric utility providing |
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electric power to the well site or surface facility of the condition |
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and require the electric utility to make a determination regarding |
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whether electric power should be disconnected from the site or |
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facility; |
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(2) request that the state fire marshal or a local |
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government authority inspect the well site or surface facility and |
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require the operator to mitigate any dangerous conditions |
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identified by the state fire marshal or local government authority; |
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or |
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(3) issue notice to the applicable electric utility to |
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investigate the condition and disconnect electric service, if |
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necessary. |
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SECTION 2. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies to an inspection that occurs on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |