MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS & COMMERCE

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

9:00 AM

Capitol Extension, Room E1.016

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce was held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.016, at Austin, Texas.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:		MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair		Senator John Whitmire
Senator Brandon Creighton, Vice Chair		Senator Judith Zaffirini
Senator Donna Campbell
Senator Craig Estes
Senator Robert Nichols
Senator Charles Schwertner
Senator Larry Taylor

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

 

Chairman Hancock made opening remarks.

 

The chair laid out the first interim charge of hearing:

 

Examine the 2018 electric reliability forecasts announced by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Review how expected diminished reserve margins will impact the rates of residential and business consumers. Monitor current mechanisms available to ERCOT to ensure grid reliability, and identify trends in the wholesale electric market. Make recommendations to maintain grid reliability moving forward.

 

Chairman Hancock opened invited testimony. Witnesses testifying are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the invited testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

The chair laid out the second interim charge of the hearing:

 

Examine the competitive nature of the Texas retail electric system and what government competitive intrusions in the free energy markets may have in distorting those markets. Review the impact of competitive versus noncompetitive retail electricity markets across the state in terms of price and reliability. Consider the projected impact of establishing competitive electric retail markets statewide.

 

Senator Creighton assumed the chair.

 

Senator Hancock resumed the chair.

 

Chairman Hancock opened invited testimony. Witnesses testifying are shown on the attached list. The chair moved that the invited testimony be closed; without objection, it was so ordered.

 

There being no further business, at 1:15 PM Senator Hancock moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senator Kelly Hancock, Chair

 

 

 

 

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Tatum Reagan, Clerk