Bill Text: TX HB4224 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities for providing electric service.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-29 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4224 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB4224-Introduced.html
87R10808 JXC-D | ||
By: Bucy | H.B. No. 4224 |
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relating to the winter weather emergency preparedness of facilities | ||
for providing electric service. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 35.0025 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 35.0025. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) | ||
The commission by rule shall establish best practices and | ||
procedures for providers of generation in the ERCOT power region | ||
for: | ||
(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment, | ||
personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for | ||
extreme weather events; | ||
(2) plant design for new plants and modifications to | ||
existing plants to ensure the plants can operate at the lowest | ||
recorded ambient temperature for the nearest municipality for which | ||
historical data is available; | ||
(3) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze | ||
protection elements; | ||
(4) heat tracing; | ||
(5) thermal insulation; | ||
(6) the erection of adequate windbreaks and | ||
enclosures; | ||
(7) annual winter-specific and plant-specific | ||
operator awareness and maintenance training; | ||
(8) prioritizing winter preparation each fall; | ||
(9) establishing personnel accountability and audit | ||
procedures; and | ||
(10) updating facility procedures at least annually as | ||
needed. | ||
(b) The commission by rule shall require each provider of | ||
generation in the ERCOT power region to: | ||
(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as | ||
necessary a plan for: | ||
(A) using the best practices and procedures to | ||
provide adequate electric generation service during a winter | ||
weather emergency; | ||
(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance | ||
for freeze protection elements; | ||
(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before | ||
and during the winter; | ||
(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection | ||
elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required | ||
maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and | ||
(E) making any needed repairs or improvements | ||
before the next winter; and | ||
(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision | ||
(1). | ||
(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of | ||
providers of generation for compliance with rules adopted under | ||
this section. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 38.074 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 38.074. WINTER WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. (a) | ||
The commission by rule shall establish best practices and | ||
procedures for electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, | ||
and transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission | ||
or distribution service in the ERCOT power region for: | ||
(1) winterization, including supplies, equipment, | ||
personnel, and preventative action checklists for preparations for | ||
extreme weather events; | ||
(2) maintenance and inspections, especially of freeze | ||
protection elements; | ||
(3) heat tracing; | ||
(4) thermal insulation; | ||
(5) the erection of adequate windbreaks and | ||
enclosures; | ||
(6) annual winter-specific operator awareness and | ||
maintenance training; | ||
(7) prioritizing winter preparation each fall; | ||
(8) establishing personnel accountability and audit | ||
procedures; and | ||
(9) updating facility procedures at least annually as | ||
needed. | ||
(b) The commission by rule shall require each electric | ||
cooperative, municipally owned utility, and transmission and | ||
distribution utility providing transmission or distribution | ||
service in the ERCOT power region to: | ||
(1) prepare, submit to the commission, and update as | ||
necessary a plan for: | ||
(A) using the best practices and procedures to | ||
maintain service quality and reliability during a winter weather | ||
emergency; | ||
(B) conducting regular preventative maintenance | ||
for freeze protection elements; | ||
(C) inspecting freeze protection elements before | ||
and during the winter; | ||
(D) testing and evaluating freeze protection | ||
elements after winter to identify potential improvements, required | ||
maintenance, and any necessary component replacement; and | ||
(E) making any needed repairs or improvements | ||
before the next winter; and | ||
(2) implement the plan submitted under Subdivision | ||
(1). | ||
(c) The commission shall regularly inspect facilities of | ||
electric cooperatives, municipally owned utilities, and | ||
transmission and distribution utilities providing transmission or | ||
distribution service in the ERCOT power region for compliance with | ||
rules adopted under this section. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |