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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to electricity supplied to certain water facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 38.0721 and 38.0722 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0721. EXCLUSION OF WATER FACILITIES FROM ROLLING |
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BLACKOUT. The commission by rule shall require each electric |
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utility, municipally owned utility, and electric cooperative to |
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exclude any circuits that provide power to a facility necessary to |
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provide water to wholesale customers from participation in the |
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utility's or cooperative's attempt to shed load in response to a |
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rolling blackout initiated by an independent organization |
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certified under Section 39.151 or another reliability council or |
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power pool in which the utility or cooperative operates. |
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Sec. 38.0722. WATER TREATMENT GRANTS. (a) The commission |
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shall establish a program to provide grants of state money |
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appropriated for that purpose to facilities necessary to provide |
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water to wholesale customers for the purpose of purchasing of |
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generators to provide a backup power supply for water treatment |
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during a power outage. |
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(b) The commission by rule shall adopt criteria for |
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determining which facilities should receive grants under this |
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section. The criteria must prioritize facilities in: |
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(1) areas with a high frequency or duration of power |
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outages relative to other areas of the state; and |
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(2) economically distressed areas, as defined by |
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Section 15.001, Water Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |