Bill Text: TX HB3699 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas regarding smart meter communication networks.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-22 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3699 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3699-Introduced.html
87R11994 CXP-D | ||
By: Hernandez | H.B. No. 3699 |
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relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas | ||
regarding smart meter communication networks. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the | ||
Public Utility Commission of Texas. | ||
SECTION 2. SMART METER COMMUNICATION NETWORKS STUDY. (a) | ||
The commission shall conduct a study on the use of smart meter | ||
communication networks to improve response after a widespread power | ||
outage. | ||
(b) The study conducted under this section must: | ||
(1) identify the costs of using or increasing the | ||
communication capacity of smart meters to allow for remote power | ||
disconnection and restoration; and | ||
(2) assess the potential applications for curtailing | ||
power to individual retail electric customers instead of entire | ||
circuits in the event of a natural disaster or other | ||
weather-related event that results in forced curtailment of power. | ||
(c) In conducting the study, the commission may collaborate | ||
with other state agencies, institutions of higher education, | ||
nonprofit corporations, electric utilities, and other interested | ||
persons. | ||
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the | ||
commission shall report the results of the study conducted under | ||
this Act and any recommendations to the legislature. The report | ||
must include recommendations for any statutory changes necessary to | ||
implement the recommendations made in the report. | ||
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2022. | ||
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2021. |