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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 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 in the entity'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; |
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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) a description of the cooperative's or utility's |
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processes for: |
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(A) the management and inspection of |
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distribution poles on the entity's distribution system; and |
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(B) the training and certifying of personnel, |
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including third-party vendors, who inspect distribution poles; and |
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(4) 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) At least once every three years, an entity to which this |
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section applies shall submit an update to the commission detailing |
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the entity's compliance with the plan's objectives and the costs of |
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implementing the plan. An electric utility may submit the update in |
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a report required under Section 38.101. |
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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. |