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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 18 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 18. TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL |
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Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Council" means the Texas Energy Efficiency |
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Council. |
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(2) "Energy efficiency program" means a program |
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designed to: |
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(A) increase efficient energy use; |
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(B) facilitate emergency load management and, |
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for electric utilities operating in an area of the state not open to |
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competition, reduce energy consumption during periods of peak |
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energy demand; |
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(C) optimize energy consumption; |
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(D) identify and realize the benefits of energy |
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efficient building design standards; or |
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(E) fund the implementation of energy cost |
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reduction measures. |
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Sec. 18.002. PURPOSE. The Texas Energy Efficiency Council |
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is a council established in the commission to evaluate and make |
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recommendations for: |
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(1) providing a statewide collaborative approach to |
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promoting energy efficiency; |
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(2) measuring, evaluating, and reporting on energy |
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efficiency performance in this state; |
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(3) creating a process for monitoring and enhancing |
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energy efficiency programs in this state; |
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(4) facilitating opportunities for coordination and |
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leveraging of federal funding from the United States Department of |
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Energy, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, |
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and other federal agencies that can be used by state agencies and |
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political subdivisions for the purposes of enhancing energy |
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efficiency; and |
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(5) providing a central repository for information on |
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statewide energy efficiency performance and opportunities to |
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participate in energy efficiency programs in this state. |
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Sec. 18.003. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. (a) The council is |
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composed of nine ex officio members as follows: |
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(1) the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality; |
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(2) the chief executive officer of the Electric |
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Reliability Council of Texas; |
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(3) the presiding officer of the commission; |
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(4) the comptroller; |
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(5) the director of the Texas Department of Housing |
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and Community Affairs; |
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(6) the executive director of the Texas Economic |
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Development and Tourism Office; |
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(7) the chairman of the Texas Water Development Board; |
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(8) the director of the Energy Systems Laboratory at |
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the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M |
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University System; and |
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(9) the chief executive of the Office of Public |
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Utility Counsel. |
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(b) An ex officio member may designate a person from the |
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member's agency to serve in the member's place. |
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(c) The presiding officer of the commission or an employee |
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designated by the presiding officer under Subsection (b) shall |
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serve as presiding officer of the council. |
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(d) The council shall meet at least two times per year at the |
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call of the presiding officer. |
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Sec. 18.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall |
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provide the council with administrative support, including meeting |
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space and staff necessary to assist the council in carrying out the |
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council's duties under this chapter. |
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Sec. 18.005. OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITES. The council shall |
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use the following official Internet websites for the publication of |
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information as required by this chapter: |
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(1) the website of the State Energy Conservation |
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Office; and |
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(2) the website of the commission. |
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Sec. 18.006. LIST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. (a) The |
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council shall: |
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(1) develop a list of currently operating energy |
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efficiency programs in this state and publish the list on the |
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official Internet websites under Section 18.005; and |
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(2) work with the State Energy Conservation Office and |
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the commission to develop and publish on the official Internet |
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websites under Section 18.005 a user-friendly page that allows a |
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consumer to search by the consumer's address energy efficiency |
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programs available in the consumer's service area. |
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(b) The State Energy Conservation Office and the commission |
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each shall provide a link on their Internet websites to the page |
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described by Subsection (a)(2). |
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Sec. 18.007. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a) |
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Except as provided by this section, the council is not subject to |
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Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code. |
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(b) Information written, produced, collected, assembled, or |
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maintained under law or in connection with the transaction of |
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official business by the council or an officer or employee of the |
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council is subject to Section 552.008, Government Code, in the same |
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manner as public information. |
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Sec. 18.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. The council biennially shall |
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prepare a report that includes the evaluations and recommendations |
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required by Section 18.002. The council shall submit the report to |
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the legislature not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered |
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year. |
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Sec. 18.009. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW. |
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Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the council. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |