Bill Text: TX SB933 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to review transmission interconnections that enable imports or exports from the ERCOT power grid.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-20 - Effective on 9/1/15 [SB933 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB933-Enrolled.html
S.B. No. 933 |
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relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas | ||
to review transmission interconnections that enable imports or | ||
exports from the ERCOT power grid. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 37.051, Utilities Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) to read as follows: | ||
(c-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title | ||
except Section 11.009, and except as provided by Subsection (c-2), | ||
a person, including an electric utility or municipally owned | ||
utility, may not interconnect a facility to the ERCOT transmission | ||
grid that enables additional power to be imported into or exported | ||
out of the ERCOT power grid unless the person obtains a certificate | ||
from the commission stating that public convenience and necessity | ||
requires or will require the interconnection. The person must | ||
apply for the certificate not later than the 180th day before the | ||
date the person seeks any order from the Federal Energy Regulatory | ||
Commission related to the interconnection. The commission shall | ||
apply Section 37.056 in considering an application under this | ||
subsection. In addition, the commission must determine that the | ||
application is consistent with the public interest before granting | ||
the certificate. The commission may adopt rules necessary to | ||
implement this subsection. This subsection does not apply to a | ||
facility that is in service on December 31, 2014. | ||
(c-2) The commission, not later than the 185th day after the | ||
date the application is filed, shall approve an application filed | ||
under Subsection (c-1) for a facility that is to be constructed | ||
under an interconnection agreement appended to an offer of | ||
settlement approved in a final order of the Federal Energy | ||
Regulatory Commission that was issued in Docket No. TX11-01-001 on | ||
or before December 31, 2014, directing physical connection between | ||
the ERCOT and SERC regions under Sections 210, 211, and 212 of the | ||
Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. Sections 824i, 824j, and 824k). In | ||
approving the application, the commission may prescribe reasonable | ||
conditions to protect the public interest that are consistent with | ||
the final order of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. | ||
(c-3) Nothing in Subsection (c-1) or (c-2) is intended to | ||
restrict the authority of the commission or the independent | ||
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power | ||
region to adopt rules or protocols of general applicability. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 933 passed the Senate on | ||
April 14, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that | ||
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2015, by the | ||
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 933 passed the House, with | ||
amendment, on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 146, | ||
Nays 0, two present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |