Bill > SB270

This bill directs the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to conduct a comprehensive study on the potential costs and benefits of burying distribution power lines in four major metropolitan areas: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The study will examine the expenses associated with underground power line installation for electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and municipal utilities, including potential costs that might be passed on to ratepayers and the expenses of maintaining underground infrastructure. Additionally, the study will analyze potential cost savings from reduced power outages, and evaluate environmental impacts, public safety considerations, and emergency response implications. The PUC is required to submit a report with study results and recommendations to the governor, lieutenant governor, and house speaker by December 31, 2026. The bill recognizes that while overhead power lines are vulnerable to damage during extreme weather, burying them is a significant financial undertaking. The legislation will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will expire on January 31, 2027, providing a specific timeframe for the study and subsequent reporting.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB270