Bill Text: TX HB842 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 842 (Prefiled Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to a study and report on burying power lines in the Gulf Coast region.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB842 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB842-Introduced.html

	89R4027 SCR-D

	By: Lalani	H.B. No. 842



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a study and report on burying power lines in the Gulf
	Coast region.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
	(1) "Commission" means the Public Utility Commission
	of Texas.
	(2) "Study area" means the area in the state located
	within 150 miles of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
	SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:
	(1) the study area is prone to weather-related power
	outages;
	(2) underground power lines are more resistant than
	overhead power lines to extreme weather conditions; and
	(3) burying power lines in the study area could reduce
	the number of weather-related power outages in the study area.
	SECTION 3. STUDY. The commission shall evaluate for the
	study area the potential:
	(1) cost of burying existing overhead power lines;
	(2) cost of maintaining and repairing underground
	power lines;
	(3) cost savings associated with reduced
	weather-related power outages; and
	(4) use of technologies developed or tested in the
	Department of Energy's Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-Speed
	Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security program
	in the study area.
	SECTION 4. REPORT. The commission shall submit a report of
	the results of the study and any recommendations to the governor,
	lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
	not later than September 1, 2026.
	SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires October 31,
	2026.
	SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
	1, 2025.