Bill > HB838

This bill addresses the interconnection of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) power grid with transmission facilities outside the ERCOT region. The legislation allows transmission and distribution utilities, municipally owned utilities, and electric cooperatives to construct, own, and operate facilities to access transmission services and purchase wholesale power from outside the ERCOT power region. The bill grants the Public Utility Commission authority to request federal approvals and require the ERCOT independent organization to approve interconnections, with some limitations related to public health and safety risks. By September 1, 2027, the commission must identify transmission facilities within ERCOT that could be synchronously interconnected with outside facilities, and utilities owning such facilities will be required to take necessary steps to establish these connections. The bill streamlines the process for obtaining certificates of convenience and necessity for these interconnection projects, modifying existing regulatory requirements and providing a framework for utilities to expand their transmission capabilities beyond the current ERCOT grid boundaries. The legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and includes provisions that expire on August 31, 2031, suggesting a time-limited approach to grid interconnection efforts.

Government Affairs

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB838