Bill Text: TX SB1002 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the operation of public electric vehicle charging stations.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-19 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB1002 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB1002-Enrolled.html
 
 
  S.B. No. 1002
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the operation of public electric vehicle charging
  stations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 42 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 42.  PUBLIC CHARGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
         Sec. 42.0101.  LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. (a)  The legislature
  finds that it is in the best interests of this state to continue the
  long-standing policy of supporting private sector investment in
  infrastructure by establishing a framework designed to encourage
  competitive private sector investment in the deployment of public
  electric vehicle charging stations.
         (b)  The legislature finds that encouraging investment in
  the deployment of public electric vehicle charging stations is
  essential to foster the rapid installation and widespread use of
  public electric vehicle charging stations on property whose owners
  or tenants desire to install public electric vehicle charging
  stations.
         (c)  The legislature finds that electric utilities,
  transmission and distribution utilities, competitive entities, and
  the commission have important roles to fill in supporting the
  installation and use of infrastructure for electric vehicle
  charging.
         (d)  The legislature finds that it is necessary to:
               (1)  implement competitively neutral policies to
  encourage competitive private sector investment in public electric
  vehicle charging station deployment;
               (2)  develop and implement competitively neutral
  electricity tariffs that are optimized for public electric vehicle
  charging stations and based on cost causation principles while
  ensuring transparency in pricing and recognizing changing market
  needs; and
               (3)  encourage competitive private investment,
  ownership, and operation of public electric vehicle charging
  stations, including equipment that allows for fast charging.
         Sec. 42.0102.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Direct-current fast charging station" means a
  charging system capable of delivering at least 50 kilowatts of
  direct-current electrical power to an electric vehicle's
  rechargeable battery at a voltage of 200 volts or greater.
               (2)  "Electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is
  propelled by one or more electric motors using energy stored in the
  form of a rechargeable battery.
               (3)  "Electric vehicle charging provider" means the
  owner or operator of a public electric vehicle charging station.  
  The term does not include an electric utility or transmission and
  distribution utility.
               (4)  "Electric vehicle charging service" means sales
  made from a public electric vehicle charging station to the public.
               (5)  "Level two charging station" means a charging
  system capable of delivering at least 3 and not more than 19.2
  kilowatts of alternating-current electrical power to an electric
  vehicle's rechargeable battery at a voltage of at least 208 volts on
  a circuit of at least 40 amperes.
               (6)  "Make-ready infrastructure" means the electrical
  infrastructure required to service a public electric vehicle
  charging station's electrical load on the electric utility's or
  transmission and distribution utility's side of the point of
  delivery.  The term:
                     (A)  includes all site-specific electrical
  infrastructure required to accommodate engineering, physical,
  operational, or other constraints for the public electric vehicle
  charging station, regardless of whether the infrastructure is on
  the utility's or customer's side of the point of delivery; and
                     (B)  does not include the public electric vehicle
  charging station or any utility infrastructure on the customer's
  side of the point of delivery, up to and including the meter.
               (7)  "Public electric vehicle charging station" means
  any level two charging station or direct-current fast charging
  station that delivers electricity from a source outside an electric
  vehicle into an electric vehicle, is separate and distinct from
  make-ready infrastructure, and is accessible for commercial use by
  the public, or similar vehicle charging equipment capable of
  delivering electricity into an electric vehicle faster than a level
  two charging station.  The term does not include vehicle charging
  equipment that is:
                     (A)  used by an electric utility, a transmission
  and distribution utility, or an affiliate to charge:
                           (i)  an electric vehicle owned by the
  utility or affiliate; or
                           (ii)  as an incident of employment, an
  electric vehicle owned by an employee of the utility or affiliate;
  or
                     (B)  located on the premises of a customer of an
  electric utility, a transmission and distribution utility, or an
  affiliate and:
                           (i)  used by the customer or the customer's
  tenants, affiliates, or guests; and
                           (ii)  not used commercially for electric
  vehicle charging service.
         Sec. 42.0103.  PUBLIC CHARGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES OUTSIDE
  OF ERCOT. (a)  This section applies only to an electric utility
  that operates solely outside of ERCOT.
         (b)  An electric utility:
               (1)  may not provide electric vehicle charging service
  directly to a customer except as provided by this section;
               (2)  may be affiliated with an entity that provides
  electric vehicle charging service from a public electric vehicle
  charging station if the affiliate:
                     (A)  is not subject to regulation by the
  commission; and
                     (B)  is subject to prohibitions on market power
  abuse, cross-subsidizations, co-branding, and preferential
  treatment between regulated and competitive activities described
  by Section 39.157(d); and
               (3)  consistent with the requirements of Subchapter B,
  Chapter 38, and Section 39.157(d)(3), shall offer the same
  nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions offered to an
  affiliate described by Subdivision (2) to other electric vehicle
  charging providers in the utility's service area for the operation
  of public electric vehicle charging stations.
         (c)  An affiliate of an electric utility that provides
  electric vehicle charging service and is not subject to regulation
  by the commission is subject to the same tariffs of the electric
  utility that apply to any other entity receiving from the utility
  electric service that is used to provide electric vehicle charging
  service.
         (d)  This section does not prohibit an electric utility from
  subsidizing the costs of make-ready infrastructure through rates or
  charges for services provided by the electric utility's regulated
  services.
         (e)  An electric utility may provide electric vehicle
  charging service directly to a customer only if:
               (1)  the public electric vehicle charging station used
  to provide electric vehicle charging service is constructed in
  compliance with the requirements of this section; and
               (2)  the rates charged by the utility for electric
  vehicle charging service are set by the commission under Subsection
  (m).
         (f)  An electric utility seeking to provide electric vehicle
  charging service directly to a customer shall:
               (1)  file with the commission a proposal identifying
  the specific location at which the utility seeks to provide
  electric vehicle charging service and a general description of the
  public electric vehicle charging station the utility proposes to
  construct at the location; and
               (2)  provide notice of the filing made under
  Subdivision (1):
                     (A)  on the utility's Internet website; and
                     (B)  to each dealer to which Chapter 2310,
  Occupations Code, applies who offers for retail sale motor fuel at a
  site that is located not more than 15 miles from the proposed
  location of the public electric vehicle charging station.
         (g)  A notice provided under Subsection (f)(2) must include:
               (1)  the date the electric utility filed a proposal to
  provide electric vehicle charging service under Subsection (f)(1);
  and
               (2)  the date by which a person may file a proposal to
  provide reasonably comparable electric vehicle charging service
  under Subsection (h).
         (h)  The commission shall determine whether the provision of
  electric vehicle charging service under a proposal submitted under
  Subsection (f)(1) is in the public interest because the service is
  adequate for the needs of the area.  Not later than the 90th day
  after the date the commission determines that the provision of the
  proposed electric vehicle charging service is in the public
  interest, a person other than the electric utility may notify the
  commission that:
               (1)  the person:
                     (A)  intends to provide electric vehicle charging
  service that is adequate for the needs of the area in reasonable
  proximity to the proposed location of the public electric vehicle
  charging station and request the necessary make-ready
  infrastructure from the electric utility; and
                     (B)  is firmly committed to placing into service
  equipment necessary to provide the electric vehicle charging
  service before the later of:
                           (i)  18 months after the date the person
  submits the notice to the commission; or
                           (ii)  the date of completion of the
  installation of the necessary make-ready infrastructure to provide
  the electric vehicle charging service; and
               (2)  the person is capable of:
                     (A)  acquiring the right to use the property at
  which the electric vehicle charging service will be provided; and
                     (B)  financing the cost of the equipment described
  by Subdivision (1)(B).
         (i)  The commission shall issue a determination regarding
  each notice received under Subsection (h) of whether:
               (1)  the proposed electric vehicle charging service is
  adequate for the needs of the area; and
               (2)  the person has made the commitment and has the
  capabilities described by that subsection.
         (j)  The commission by rule may establish a distance that
  constitutes reasonable proximity to a type of location for the
  purposes of Subsection (h).  The commission may also issue an order
  establishing a distance other than one authorized by rule that
  constitutes reasonable proximity to a location for purposes of
  Subsection (h) for a specific electric utility.  In establishing
  distances that constitute reasonable proximity to a location, the
  commission shall:
               (1)  consider population density and site access;
               (2)  establish the reasonable proximity between two
  locations on an interstate highway for the purposes of Subsection
  (h) as not more than 10 miles; and
               (3)  consider the Texas Department of Transportation's
  designation by category of nearby roads other than interstate
  highways when establishing the reasonable proximity between two
  locations at which electric vehicle charging service will be
  provided on roads other than interstate highways.
         (k)  An electric utility that files a proposal under
  Subsection (f) may proceed with construction of the public electric
  vehicle charging station and the provision of electric vehicle
  charging service unless the commission determines, based on the
  information submitted under Subsection (h), that:
               (1)  the electric vehicle charging service proposed
  under Subsection (h) in response to the utility's proposal is
  adequate for the needs of the area and that the person who submitted
  the notice under Subsection (h) has made the commitment and has the
  capabilities described by that subsection; or
               (2)  the electric vehicle charging service proposed
  under Subsection (f) by the utility unreasonably duplicates:
                     (A)  electric vehicle charging service provided
  by another person; or
                     (B)  a facility under construction that another
  person will use to provide electric vehicle charging service.
         (l)  An electric utility authorized to proceed with the
  construction of a public electric vehicle charging station under
  Subsection (k) shall notify the commission that the utility intends
  to proceed with the construction and may construct and operate the
  proposed public electric vehicle charging station after the 120th
  day after the date the utility files the notice of intent under this
  subsection.
         (m)  On application by an electric utility, the commission
  shall set in a manner authorized under Chapter 36 the rates the
  utility may charge for electric vehicle charging service. The
  rates must be reasonable and ensure that competition is not
  impaired. The commission may set rates differently for different
  locations and times of day and for different types of electric
  vehicle charging service.
         (n)  The commission shall permit an electric utility
  authorized to construct and operate a public electric vehicle
  charging station under this section to recover, using the rate of
  return on investment established in the commission's final order in
  the utility's most recent base rate proceeding, reasonable and
  necessary costs incurred for the construction, financing,
  operation, and maintenance of that public electric vehicle charging
  station.
         (o)  This section does not prohibit a person who is not an
  electric utility or an affiliate of an electric utility from
  entering into an agreement with an electric utility for the utility
  to own or operate a public electric vehicle charging station on the
  person's property if:
               (1)  the utility does not:
                     (A)  provide electric vehicle charging service
  using the public electric vehicle charging station; or
                     (B)  brand or market the public electric vehicle
  charging station as owned or operated by the utility, including by
  presenting the utility's name, logo, or any other distinguishing
  mark to indicate that the utility owns or operates the public
  electric vehicle charging station;
               (2)  the person solely determines:
                     (A)  physical access to and use of the public
  electric vehicle charging station necessary to carry out
  responsibilities associated with ownership and operation of the
  public electric vehicle charging station; and
                     (B)  prices for the electric vehicle charging
  service; and
               (3)  the person pays for all electric utility-related
  costs under a tariff approved by the commission that provides for
  full recovery of the costs of the public electric vehicle charging
  station from the person, including incremental revenues paid by the
  person to the utility associated with the electric vehicle charging
  service.
         (p)  The commission shall:
               (1)  require each electric utility for which the
  commission has approved a tariff under Subsection (o) to offer
  service under the terms of the tariff to other persons seeking
  agreements in the utility's service area on a nondiscriminatory
  basis; and
               (2)  ensure that revenue collected by an electric
  utility under an agreement under Subsection (o) allows the utility
  to recover the costs of owning, constructing, financing, operating,
  and maintaining the public electric vehicle charging station from
  the person and not the utility's other customers.
         (q)  A public electric vehicle charging station operated
  under an agreement under Subsection (o) is not subject to the
  requirements of Subsections (f)-(l).
         (r)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  municipality that is a customer of an electric utility may enter
  into an agreement with the utility under which:
               (1)  the utility owns and operates a public electric
  vehicle charging station and provides electric vehicle charging
  service on the municipality's property; and
               (2)  none of the costs of constructing, financing,
  operating, or maintaining the public electric vehicle charging
  station described by Subdivision (1) are recovered from the other
  customers of the utility.
         Sec. 42.0104.  PUBLIC CHARGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES INSIDE
  ERCOT. (a) A transmission and distribution utility:
               (1)  may not directly own, operate, or provide electric
  vehicle charging service from a public electric vehicle charging
  station;
               (2)  may not include costs of a public electric vehicle
  charging station for recovery through rates approved by the
  commission;
               (3)  may be affiliated with a competitive affiliate
  that provides electric vehicle charging service from a public
  electric vehicle charging station through a separate entity or
  third party only if:
                     (A)  the affiliate:
                           (i)  is not subject to regulation by the
  commission; and
                           (ii)  is subject to prohibitions on market
  power abuse, cross-subsidizations, co-branding, and preferential
  treatment between regulated and competitive activities described
  by Section 39.157(d); and
                     (B)  the alternative fuels data center map
  maintained by the United States Department of Energy does not show
  that a public electric vehicle charging station owned or operated
  by an electric vehicle charging provider and used to provide
  electric vehicle charging service is located less than 50 miles
  from the location where the affiliate proposes to provide electric
  vehicle charging service; and
               (4)  consistent with the requirements of Subchapter B,
  Chapter 38, and Section 39.157(d)(3), shall offer the same
  nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions offered to the
  affiliate described by Subdivision (3) to other electric vehicle
  charging providers in the transmission and distribution utility's
  service area for the operation of public electric vehicle charging
  stations.
         (b)  An affiliate described by Subsection (a)(3) shall
  maintain for at least two years documentation of the alternative
  fuels data center map that is available on the date on which the
  installation of the public electric vehicle charging station
  begins.
         (c)  An affiliate of a transmission and distribution utility
  that provides, owns, operates, or maintains public electric vehicle
  charging stations and is not subject to regulation by the
  commission may not be subsidized by any rate or charge for any
  regulated services provided by the transmission and distribution
  utility.
         (d)  This section does not prohibit a transmission and
  distribution utility from constructing, owning, or operating
  make-ready infrastructure on the transmission and distribution
  utility's side of the point of delivery that is funded through rates
  or charges for services under the transmission and distribution
  utility's tariffs.
         (e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a transmission and
  distribution utility may own, operate, lease, install, or otherwise
  procure service from a public electric vehicle charging station on
  the utility's premises for the sole purpose of serving the utility's
  vehicles.
         (f)  The commission shall permit a transmission and
  distribution utility to recover, using the rate of return on
  investment established in the commission's final order in the
  utility's most recent base rate proceeding, reasonable and
  necessary costs incurred for the construction or installation of
  make-ready infrastructure on the utility's side of the point of
  delivery.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Sections 42.0104(a)(3)(B) and 42.0104(b),
  Utilities Code, as added by this Act, apply only to electric vehicle
  charging service provided on or after January 1, 2026.
         (b)  Section 42.0104(c), Utilities Code, as added by this
  Act, applies only to a rate or charge imposed after January 1, 2024.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1002 passed the Senate on
  April 12, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1002 passed the House on
  May 3, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 99, Nays 34, one present
  not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor
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