By: King, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Hancock) H.B. No. 143          (In the Senate - Received from the House April 2, 2025;   April 3, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural   Resources; May 22, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable   Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;   May 22, 2025, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 143 By:  Hancock     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and   the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an   operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or   certain surface facilities in accordance with the National   Electrical Code.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 91.019.  STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND   MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES.  (a)  An operator shall   construct, operate, and maintain:                (1)  an electrical power line serving a well site or   other surface facility employed in operations incident to oil and   gas development and production in accordance with the National   Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection   Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and   Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code; and                (2)  electrical power line poles in a manner that   ensures the prevention and remediation of any readily observable   deficiencies, including damage, deterioration, leaning, or   cracking.          (b)  If a landowner or lessee discovers a condition involving   an electrical power line, pole, or any other related electrical   equipment that does not meet the standards described by Subsection   (a), the landowner or lessee shall provide written notice of the   condition to the commission.          (c)  If, during an inspection by the commission of a well   site or surface facility employed in operations incident to oil and   gas development and production or on the receipt of a written notice   submitted by a landowner or lessee, the commission discovers a   readily observable condition involving an electrical power line,   pole, or any other related electrical equipment that does not meet   the standards described by Subsection (a) and poses a risk of   causing a fire or injury to a person, the commission shall, not   later than three days after the discovery of the condition, notify   the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the operator. The   notification provided by the commission must include a description   of the condition and whether the well is abandoned.          (d)  The commission shall notify the landowner of the   condition and inform the landowner of the actions the commission   and the Public Utility Commission of Texas will take or have taken   to resolve the condition not later than:                (1)  the 10th day after the date the commission   discovers the condition; or                (2)  the 30th day after the date the commission   discovers the condition, if the commission does not have the   landowner's contact information at the time of the discovery.          (e)  Not later than the 10th day after the date on which the   commission discovers the condition, the commission and the Public   Utility Commission of Texas shall resolve the condition by:                (1)  requesting that the state fire marshal or a local   government authority inspect the condition at the well site or   surface facility and requiring the operator to mitigate any   dangerous conditions identified by the state fire marshal or local   government authority;                (2)  requesting that the electric cooperative,   electric utility, or municipally owned utility that provides   electric service to the well site or surface facility disconnect   electric service to the well site or surface facility at the common   coupling point at which the cooperative's or utility's equipment   meets customer-owned equipment; or                (3)  taking any other action the commission and the   Public Utility Commission of Texas consider necessary and   appropriate to resolve the condition.          (f)  If electric service was disconnected pursuant to a   request made under Subsection (e)(2), the electric cooperative,   electric utility, or municipally owned utility must restore   electric service to the well site or surface facility on receipt of   notice by the commission that the condition has been resolved.          (g)  Members, employees, and agents of the commission may   enter public or private property only as necessary for purposes of   conducting an inspection under this section.          SECTION 2.  Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, as   amended by this Act, applies only to an inspection that occurs on or   after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.     * * * * *