This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

  81R1711 TJS-D
 
  By: Anchia H.B. No. 278
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to energy demand and incentives for distributed renewable
  generation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 39.917 to read as follows:
         Sec. 39.917.  GOAL FOR DISTRIBUTED RENEWABLE GENERATION.
  (a)  In this section, "distributed renewable generation" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 39.916.
         (b)  It is the goal of the legislature that by January 1,
  2020, an additional 2,000 megawatts of generating capacity from
  distributed renewable energy sources will have been installed in
  this state and that, by January 1, 2015, at least 1,000 megawatts of
  that additional generating capacity will have been installed in
  this state.
         (c)  Electric utilities shall administer programs to give
  all customers, in all customer classes, an opportunity and
  incentive to use distributed renewable generation as a supplemental
  energy source, including programs that provide incentives to:
               (1)  commercial and residential customers to build
  integrated solar and geothermal generation of their residence or
  place of business; and
               (2)  homebuilders to build integrated solar and
  geothermal generation in new homes.
         (d)  A retail electric provider shall provide its customers
  with distributed renewable generation educational materials.
         (e)  The commission shall provide oversight and adopt rules
  and procedures to ensure that the utilities can achieve the goal
  prescribed by this section, including rules and procedures:
               (1)  establishing a distributed renewable generation
  cost recovery factor for ensuring timely and reasonable cost
  recovery for utility expenditures made to satisfy the goal
  prescribed by this section;
               (2)  establishing an incentive under Section 36.204 to
  reward utilities administering programs under this section;
               (3)  providing a utility that is unable to establish a
  distributed renewable generation cost recovery factor in a timely
  manner due to a rate freeze with a mechanism to enable the utility
  to:
                     (A)  defer the costs of complying with this
  section; and
                     (B)  recover the deferred costs through a
  distributed renewable generation cost recovery factor on the
  expiration of the rate freeze period;
               (4)  ensuring that the costs associated with the
  programs provided under this section are borne by the customer
  classes that receive the services under the programs; and
               (5)  ensuring the program encourages the utilities to
  pass on the value of the incentives to end-use consumers.
         (f)  The distributed renewable generation cost recovery
  factor under Subsection (e) may not result in an over-recovery of
  costs but may be adjusted each year to change rates to enable
  utilities to match revenues against distributed renewable
  generation costs and any incentives they receive. The factor shall
  be adjusted to reflect any over-collection or under-collection of
  distributed renewable generation cost recovery revenue in previous
  years.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2009.