87S10813 JXC-D
	By: Reynolds	H.B. No. 247

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to demand response programs.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 17.003(d-1), Utilities Code, as added by
	S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(d-1)  An electric utility providing electric delivery
	service for a retail electric provider, as defined by Section
	31.002, shall provide to the retail electric provider, and the
	retail electric provider shall periodically provide to the retail
	electric provider's retail customers together with bills sent to
	the customers, information about:
	(1)  the electric utility's procedures for implementing
	involuntary load shedding initiated by the independent
	organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
	region;
	(2)  the types of customers who may be considered
	critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
	customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
	under Section 38.076;
	(3)  the procedure for a customer to apply to be
	considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
	industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
	adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
	(4)  reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
	load shedding events may be implemented; and
	(5)  the procedure for a residential or commercial
	customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
	through the electric utility or a demand response provider to
	reduce electricity use during times of peak demand, including
	during an involuntary load shedding event.
	SECTION 2.  Section 17.005(f), Utilities Code, as added by
	S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(f)  A municipally owned utility shall periodically provide
	with bills sent to retail customers of the utility information
	about:
	(1)  the utility's procedure for implementing
	involuntary load shedding;
	(2)  the types of customers who may be considered
	critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
	customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
	under Section 38.076;
	(3)  the procedure for a customer to apply to be
	considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
	industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
	adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
	(4)  reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
	load shedding events may be implemented; and
	(5)  the procedure for a residential or commercial
	customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
	through the utility or a demand response provider to reduce
	electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an
	involuntary load shedding event.
	SECTION 3.  Section 17.006(f), Utilities Code, as added by
	S.B. No. 3, Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(f)  An electric cooperative shall periodically provide with
	bills sent to retail customers of the cooperative information
	about:
	(1)  the cooperative's procedure for implementing
	involuntary load shedding;
	(2)  the types of customers who may be considered
	critical care residential customers, critical load industrial
	customers, or critical load according to commission rules adopted
	under Section 38.076;
	(3)  the procedure for a customer to apply to be
	considered a critical care residential customer, a critical load
	industrial customer, or critical load according to commission rules
	adopted under Section 38.076; [and]
	(4)  reducing electricity use at times when involuntary
	load shedding events may be implemented; and
	(5)  the procedure for a residential or commercial
	customer to participate in a voluntary demand response program
	through the cooperative or a demand response provider to reduce
	electricity use during times of peak demand, including during an
	involuntary load shedding event.
	SECTION 4.  Section 39.101(b), Utilities Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(b)  A customer is entitled:
	(1)  to be informed about rights and opportunities in
	the transition to a competitive electric industry;
	(2)  to choose the customer's retail electric provider
	consistent with this chapter, to have that choice honored, and to
	assume that the customer's chosen provider will not be changed
	without the customer's informed consent;
	(3)  to have access to providers of energy efficiency
	services, to on-site distributed generation, and to providers of
	energy generated by renewable energy resources;
	(4)  to be served by a provider of last resort that
	offers a commission-approved standard service package;
	(5)  to receive sufficient information to make an
	informed choice of service provider;
	(6)  to be protected from unfair, misleading, or
	deceptive practices, including protection from being billed for
	services that were not authorized or provided; [and]
	(7)  to have an impartial and prompt resolution of
	disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission
	and distribution utility; and
	(8)  to participate in demand response programs
	through:
	(A)  retail electric providers; and
	(B)  demand response providers.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
	last day of the legislative session.