Bill Text: TX SB1593 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to ensuring system reliability of electricity generation through use of a compliance monitor and an enforcement division of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-24 - Referred to Jurisprudence [SB1593 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB1593-Introduced.html

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2021S0143-1 03/02/21
By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 1593

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to ensuring system reliability of electricity generation
through use of a compliance monitor and an enforcement division of
the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "commission" means the
Public Utility Commission of Texas.
(b) For five days beginning on February 14, 2021, the state
experienced such extreme freezing temperatures that power
generation facilities became inoperable, which caused a
significant portion of the state to go without electricity for
days.
(c) In 2015, the commission hired the Texas Reliability
Entity to ensure compliance with the commission's own reliability
regulations, as well as those of the Electric Reliability Council
of Texas.
(d) The Texas Reliability Entity was authorized to:
(1) develop, monitor, assess, and enforce compliance
with standards consistent with federal and North American Electric
Reliability Corporation standards;
(2) develop regional standards; and
(3) assess and periodically report on the reliability
and adequacy of the bulk power system.
(e) In November 2020, the commission decided to terminate
its contract with the Texas Reliability Entity. On August 1, 2020,
the commission disbanded its enforcement division.
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 39.918 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.918. RELIABILITY MONITOR; ENFORCEMENT DIVISION.
(a) The commission shall retain an independent third-party monitor
to ensure that electric utilities comply with system reliability
standards.
(b) The commission shall establish an enforcement division
to make full use of the authority granted to the commission to
ensure that electric utilities comply with state and federal rules
and regulations.
SECTION 3. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall
comply with Section 39.918, Utilities Code, as added by this Act, as
soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.