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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing an advisory group to study potential means |
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to finance costs of development and maintenance of electric |
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transmission infrastructure. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "work group" means the |
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work group established under Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 2. WORK GROUP. The Transmission Cost Funding Work |
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Group is composed of the following members: |
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(1) one representative of the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas, appointed by the chair of the commission; |
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(2) one representative of the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code, for |
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the ERCOT power region, appointed by the chief executive officer of |
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the independent organization; |
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(3) two members of the Texas Senate, appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(4) two members of the Texas House of Representatives, |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(5) one representative of the comptroller's office, |
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appointed by the comptroller; and |
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(6) the following members, appointed by the governor: |
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(A) one representative of the office of the |
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governor; |
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(B) one representative of a consumer advocacy |
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group; |
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(C) one representative of a renewable energy |
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organization; and |
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(D) one representative each of: |
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(i) the oil and gas industry; |
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(ii) an investor-owned electric utility; |
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(iii) a municipally owned electric utility; |
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and |
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(iv) an electric cooperative. |
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SECTION 3. STUDY. The work group shall conduct a study of |
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available means to finance the costs of development and maintenance |
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of electric transmission infrastructure that may help to ensure the |
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reliability, affordability, and long-term sustainability of the |
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Texas power grid. The study must be designed to: |
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(1) identify potential revenue sources, funding |
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mechanisms, and incentives that may be dedicated to those costs, |
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including: |
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(A) legislative appropriations; |
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(B) public-private partnerships; |
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(C) utility surcharges or fees; |
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(D) tax incentives; |
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(E) infrastructure investment programs; and |
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(F) reallocation of existing funds; |
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(2) assess the financial feasibility and long-term |
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sustainability of the revenue sources, funding mechanisms, and |
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incentives described by Subdivision (1) of this section; |
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(3) evaluate the potential effects of each of the |
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revenue sources, funding mechanisms, and incentives described by |
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Subdivision (1) of this section on consumers, utilities, and the |
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economy of this state; and |
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(4) compare and evaluate the revenue sources, funding |
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mechanisms, and incentives applied to those costs by other states. |
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SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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work group shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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and the speaker of the house of representatives a written report |
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that includes: |
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(1) the findings of the study conducted under Section |
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3 of this Act; and |
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(2) any recommendations for legislative or other |
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action related to the funding of electric transmission projects. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |