Bill Text: TX HB4784 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power region.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4784 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4784-Introduced.html
88R13423 KBB-F | ||
By: Anchía | H.B. No. 4784 |
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relating to the provision of electricity service in the ERCOT power | ||
region. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. 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; [ |
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(7) to have an impartial and prompt resolution of | ||
disputes with its chosen retail electric provider and transmission | ||
and distribution utility; | ||
(8) to participation in demand response programs | ||
through retail electric providers and demand response providers; | ||
and | ||
(9) to receive notice from the retail electric | ||
provider that serves the customer: | ||
(A) when the independent organization certified | ||
under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region issues an emergency | ||
energy alert about low operating reserves to providers of | ||
generation in the power region; or | ||
(B) of planned outages and the length of time the | ||
outages are expected to last. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 39.905, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsections (a-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) In addition to meeting the demand goals provided by | ||
Subsection (a), each electric utility shall also meet an annual | ||
energy savings goal of: | ||
(1) one-fourth of one percent annual energy savings in | ||
the 2024 calendar year; | ||
(2) one-half of one percent annual energy savings in | ||
the 2025 calendar year; | ||
(3) three-fourths of one percent annual energy savings | ||
in the 2026 calendar year; and | ||
(4) one percent annual energy savings beginning with | ||
the 2027 calendar year. | ||
(b-2) The commission by rule shall provide a method to | ||
establish each utility's annual savings goal under Subsection | ||
(a-1). The method must be based on the existing and expected usage | ||
of electricity delivered in a utility's service area that is | ||
required to pay the annual energy efficiency cost recovery fee. In | ||
adopting rules, the commission may provide for cost caps for the | ||
implementation of Subsection (a-1) and provide good cause | ||
exceptions for a utility that is unable to meet the goal in a | ||
cost-effective manner. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 39.919 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 39.919. RESIDENTIAL DEMAND RESPONSE PROGRAM. (a) The | ||
commission by rule shall require each retail electric provider in | ||
the ERCOT power region to create a residential demand response | ||
program to reduce the average total residential load by at least: | ||
(1) one percent of peak summer and winter demand by | ||
December 31, 2024; | ||
(2) two percent of peak summer and winter demand by | ||
December 31, 2025; | ||
(3) three percent of peak summer and winter demand by | ||
December 31, 2026; and | ||
(4) five percent of peak summer and winter demand by | ||
December 31, 2027. | ||
(b) The rules must: | ||
(1) ensure that demand response participation is | ||
reasonably available to residential customers; | ||
(2) promote the use of smart metering technology; | ||
(3) ensure that demand response programs are capable | ||
of responding to an emergency energy alert about low operating | ||
reserves issued by the independent organization certified under | ||
Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region; | ||
(4) provide opportunities for demand response | ||
providers to contract with retail electric providers to provide | ||
demand response services; and | ||
(5) ensure the program does not impact the critical | ||
needs of vulnerable populations. | ||
SECTION 4. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall | ||
adopt rules to implement the changes made by this Act to Section | ||
39.905, Utilities Code, not later than December 31, 2023. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |