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AN ACT
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relating to plans for the management and inspection of distribution |
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poles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 38, |
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Utilities Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE [REPORT] |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.103 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.103. DISTRIBUTION POLE PLAN. (a) Each electric |
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cooperative, electric utility, and municipally owned utility that |
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distributes electric energy to the public shall submit to the |
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commission a plan for the management and inspection of distribution |
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poles the cooperative or utility owns in the cooperative's or |
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utility's distribution system. |
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(b) Each plan submitted under Subsection (a) must include: |
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(1) a statement of the plan's scope and objectives for |
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ensuring public safety through the effective management, |
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inspection, maintenance, and repair of distribution poles; |
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(2) the roles and responsibilities of individuals |
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responsible for overseeing and executing the plan; |
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(3) processes for training and certifying personnel, |
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including third-party vendors, who inspect distribution poles; |
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(4) an estimated timeline for completing inspections |
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and remedial action required for any pole identified as unreliable, |
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unsafe, or needing repair; |
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(5) processes for documenting and responding to a |
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report or complaint made by a landowner regarding the condition or |
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repair of a distribution pole; |
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(6) for a plan submitted by an electric utility, the |
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estimated cost of implementing the plan; and |
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(7) a description of the cooperative's or utility's |
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methods to monitor compliance with the plan. |
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(c) Not later than May 1 of each year, an entity to which |
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this section applies shall submit an update to the commission |
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detailing the entity's compliance with the plan's objectives, the |
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costs of implementing the plan to date, and the results of the |
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entity's inspection of distribution poles, including the number of |
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poles inspected and any remediation or replacement action taken. |
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An electric utility may submit the update in a report required under |
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Section 38.101. |
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(d) The commission shall review each plan and update |
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submitted under this section to determine whether the entity that |
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submitted the plan or update is in compliance with the plan's |
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objectives described by Subsection (b)(1) and notify the entity |
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whether or not the entity is in compliance with those objectives. |
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(e) The commission may accept in place of the information |
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required under this section any information required under other |
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law that is substantially similar to the information required under |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2027, each entity to |
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which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies |
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shall submit the plan required by that section to the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas. The Public Utility Commission of Texas may |
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establish different plan submission dates for each class of entity |
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to which Section 38.103, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, |
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applies. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 144 was passed by the House on April |
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29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 125, Nays 21, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 144 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 110, Nays 18, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 144 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 26, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |