Bill Text: TX HB3637 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the equitable distribution of involuntary load shedding events.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-16 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3637 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3637-Introduced.html
88R13173 DIO-D | ||
By: Goodwin | H.B. No. 3637 |
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relating to the equitable distribution of involuntary load shedding | ||
events. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 38.076(c), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(c) The commission by rule shall: | ||
(1) categorize types of critical load that may be | ||
given the highest priority for power restoration; and | ||
(2) require electric cooperatives, municipally owned | ||
utilities, and transmission and distribution utilities providing | ||
transmission service in the ERCOT power region to submit to each | ||
county and municipality in which the cooperative or utility | ||
provides service, the commission, and the independent organization | ||
certified under Section 39.151 for the region: | ||
(A) customers or circuits the cooperative or | ||
utility has designated as critical load; and | ||
(B) a plan for participating in load shedding in | ||
response to an involuntary load shedding event described by | ||
Subsection (a). | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 38.078 and 38.079 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 38.078. UPGRADES TO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. (a) Each | ||
transmission and distribution utility, municipally owned utility, | ||
and electric cooperative shall make upgrades to the distribution | ||
system operated by the utility or cooperative for the purpose of | ||
more evenly distributing involuntary load shedding. | ||
(b) A transmission and distribution utility, municipally | ||
owned utility, or electric cooperative may recover reasonable and | ||
necessary costs incurred in making upgrades to the distribution | ||
system operated by the utility or cooperative. | ||
(c) Each transmission and distribution utility, municipally | ||
owned utility, and electric cooperative shall make a plan for using | ||
advanced metering technology, software, equipment, and other | ||
upgrades to a distribution system to deploy involuntary load | ||
shedding. | ||
(d) A plan developed under Subsection (c) may include use of | ||
both advanced metering technology and distribution feeders. | ||
Sec. 38.079. CRITICAL LOAD DESIGNATION. (a) The | ||
commission by rule shall require electric cooperatives, | ||
municipally owned utilities, and transmission and distribution | ||
utilities to designate the following types of facilities as | ||
critical load public safety customers, as defined by commission | ||
rule: | ||
(1) long-term care facilities; | ||
(2) food pantries; | ||
(3) homeless shelters; | ||
(4) temporary shelters identified by the county; | ||
(5) critical telecommunications facilities; | ||
(6) critical water or wastewater facilities, as | ||
defined by Section 418.0425, Government Code; and | ||
(7) hospital facilities licensed under Chapter 241, | ||
Health and Safety Code. | ||
(b) The commission shall allow a county to designate a | ||
critical load public safety customer, as defined by commission | ||
rule. | ||
SECTION 3. (a) In this section, the term "transmission and | ||
distribution utility" has the meaning assigned by Section 31.002, | ||
Utilities Code. | ||
(b) Not later than September 1, 2024, the Public Utility | ||
Commission of Texas shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the | ||
changes in law made by this Act. | ||
(c) A transmission and distribution utility, municipally | ||
owned utility, or electric cooperative shall implement Section | ||
38.078, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, not later than | ||
September 1, 2027. | ||
(d) The Public Utility Commission of Texas may extend the | ||
deadline under Subsection (c) of this section by not more than one | ||
year, on a case-by-case basis. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |