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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to plans for the management and inspection of transmission |
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and distribution 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. TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION POLE PLAN. (a) |
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Each electric cooperative, electric utility, and municipally owned |
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utility that distributes electric energy to the public shall submit |
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to the commission a plan for the management and inspection of |
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transmission and distribution poles in the entity's transmission |
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and 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; |
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(2) the roles, responsibilities, and accountability |
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of individuals responsible for overseeing and executing the plan; |
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(3) a description of the cooperative's or utility's |
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processes for: |
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(A) the management, repair, and inspection of |
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transmission and distribution poles on the entity's transmission |
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and distribution system; |
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(B) the training and certifying of personnel, |
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including third-party vendors, who inspect and repair transmission |
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and distribution poles; and |
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(C) the documentation of and response to a report |
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or complaint made by a landowner regarding the condition or repair |
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of transmission or distribution poles; |
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(4) for each transmission and distribution pole to be |
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inspected: |
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(A) a deadline by which the inspection will be |
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completed; |
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(B) a process by which inspection records will be |
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submitted; and |
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(C) a timeline for any remedial action required |
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for a pole identified as unreliable, unsafe, or needing repair; and |
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(5) a proposed budget for implementing the plan. |
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(c) The commission shall approve, modify, or reject a plan |
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submitted to the commission under Subsection (a) not later than the |
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180th day after the date the plan is submitted. |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), at least once |
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every three years, an entity to which this section applies shall |
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submit an update to the commission detailing the entity's |
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compliance with the plan's objectives, the costs of implementing |
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the plan, and the entity's inspection results and repair schedule. |
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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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(e) At least once each month, an entity to which this |
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section applies shall submit an update to the commission of the |
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information described by Subsection (b)(4). An update must include |
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for each transmission and distribution pole inspected an indication |
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of whether the pole passed inspection and was determined to be safe, |
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reliable, and able to withstand extreme weather conditions, |
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including high winds. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2026, 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. |
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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. |