Bill Text: TX HB11 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the preparedness for extreme weather emergencies of facilities that provide electricity service; providing an administrative penalty.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 28-10)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-05-03 - Left pending in committee [HB11 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB11-Introduced.html

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By: Paddie H.B. No. 11

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the extreme weather emergency preparedness of
facilities for providing electric service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 35.0021 to read as follows:
Sec. 35.0021. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this
section, "extreme weather emergency" means a period when:
(1) the previous day's highest temperature did not
exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to
remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the
nearest National Weather Service reports; or
(2) the National Weather Service issues a heat
advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when
such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two
calendar days.
(b) The commission by rule shall require each provider of
generation in the ERCOT power region to:
(1) implement measures to prepare generation
facilities to provide adequate electric generation service during
an extreme weather emergency;
(2) make all reasonable efforts to prevent
interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency;
(3) reestablish service within the shortest possible
time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather
emergency; and
(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies
resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather
emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on
procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather
emergency.
(c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect
any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,
communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.074. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) In this
section, "extreme weather emergency" has the meaning assigned by
Subsection 35.0021(a), Utilities Code.
(b) The commission by rule shall require each electric
cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and
distribution utility providing transmission or distribution
service in the ERCOT power region to:
(1) implement measures to prepare facilities to
maintain service quality and reliability during a weather emergency
(2) make all reasonable efforts to prevent
interruptions of service during an extreme weather emergency;
(3) reestablish service within the shortest possible
time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather
emergency; and
(4) make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies
resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather
emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on
procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather
emergency.
(c) The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect
any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,
communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.
SECTION 3. The public utility commission shall adopt rules
as required by Sections 35.0021 and 38.074, Utilities Code, as
added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2020.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.