Bill Text: TX HB3213 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities for providing electric service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-19 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3213 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3213-Introduced.html
| 87R11757 JXC-D | ||
| By: Sherman, Sr. | H.B. No. 3213 | |
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| relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities | ||
| for providing electric service. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 86, Natural Resources | ||
| Code, is amended by adding Section 86.044 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 86.044. WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. The | ||
| commission by rule shall require an operator of a gas well to | ||
| implement measures to prepare the well to operate during a weather | ||
| emergency. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 35.0021 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 35.0021. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. The | ||
| commission by rule shall require each provider of generation in the | ||
| ERCOT power region to: | ||
| (1) ensure that adequate maintenance and inspection of | ||
| freeze protection elements is conducted on a timely and repetitive | ||
| basis; | ||
| (2) inspect and maintain generating unit heat tracing | ||
| equipment; | ||
| (3) inspect and maintain generating unit thermal | ||
| insulation; | ||
| (4) make a plan to erect adequate windbreaks and | ||
| enclosures, where needed; | ||
| (5) develop and annually conduct winter-specific and | ||
| plant-specific operator awareness and maintenance training; | ||
| (6) ensure that winterization supplies and equipment | ||
| are in place before the winter season; | ||
| (7) ensure that adequate staffing is in place for cold | ||
| weather events; | ||
| (8) take preventative action in anticipation of cold | ||
| weather events in a timely manner; | ||
| (9) install insulation and heated pipes as necessary; | ||
| (10) use crushers to break up frozen coal; | ||
| (11) ensure that equipment can withstand ambient | ||
| temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two days; and | ||
| (12) heat any wind turbines and ensure that the | ||
| turbines can withstand temperatures of -22 degrees Fahrenheit for | ||
| at least two days. | ||
| SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 38.074. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. 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) ensure that transmission facilities are capable of | ||
| performing during cold weather conditions; | ||
| (2) ensure that communications responsibility is | ||
| placed on more than one system operator or on several key personnel | ||
| during an emergency; | ||
| (3) consider using persons who are not otherwise | ||
| responsible for emergency operations for communications during an | ||
| emergency or likely emergency; | ||
| (4) conduct critical load review for gas production | ||
| and transmission facilities and determine the level of protection | ||
| such facilities should be accorded in the event of system stress or | ||
| load shedding; | ||
| (5) train operators in proper load shedding procedures | ||
| and conduct periodic drills to maintain load shedding skills; | ||
| (6) install insulation and heated pipes as necessary; | ||
| and | ||
| (7) ensure that equipment can withstand ambient | ||
| temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two days. | ||
| SECTION 4. Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 39.159 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 39.159. INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION COMMUNICATION. An | ||
| independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the | ||
| ERCOT power region shall: | ||
| (1) communicate with transmission and distribution | ||
| utilities, municipally owned utilities, and electric cooperatives | ||
| about deteriorating weather conditions in a timely manner; and | ||
| (2) provide transmission and distribution utilities, | ||
| municipally owned utilities, and electric cooperatives with access | ||
| to information about loads on the systems of the utilities and | ||
| cooperatives that could be curtailed by the organization to provide | ||
| operating reserves or as emergency interruptible load service. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
