89R12076 ANG-F     By: King H.B. No. 4668       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas   to retain assistance for regional proceedings affecting certain   electric utilities and consumers.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is   amended by adding Section 39.004 to read as follows:          Sec. 39.004.  HIRING ASSISTANCE FOR REGIONAL PROCEEDINGS.   (a) The commission may retain any consultant, accountant, auditor,   engineer, or attorney the commission considers necessary to   represent the commission in a proceeding before a regional   transmission organization, or before a court reviewing proceedings   of a regional transmission organization, related to:                (1)  the relationship of an electric utility to a power   region, regional transmission organization, or independent system   operator;                (2)  the approval of an agreement among an electric   utility and the electric utility's affiliates concerning the   coordination of the operations of the electric utility and the   electric utility's affiliates; or                (3)  other matters related to an electric utility that   may affect the ultimate rates paid by retail customers in this   state.          (b)  Assistance for which a consultant, accountant, auditor,   engineer, or attorney may be retained under Subsection (a) may   include:                (1)  conducting a study;                (2)  conducting an investigation;                (3)  presenting evidence;                (4)  advising the commission; or                (5)  representing the commission.          (c)  The electric utility that is the subject of the   proceeding shall pay timely the reasonable costs of the services of   a person retained under Subsection (a), as determined by the   commission. The total costs an electric utility is required to pay   under this subsection may not exceed $1.5 million in a 12-month   period.          (d)  The commission shall allow an electric utility to   recover both the total costs the electric utility paid under   Subsection (c) and the carrying charges for those costs through a   rider established annually to recover the costs paid and carrying   charges incurred during the preceding calendar year. The rider may   not be implemented before the rider is reviewed and approved by the   commission.          (e)  The commission shall consult the attorney general   before the commission retains a consultant, accountant, auditor, or   engineer under Subsection (a). The retention of an attorney under   Subsection (a) is subject to the approval of the attorney general   under Section 402.0212, Government Code.          (f)  The commission shall be precluded from engaging any   individual who is required to register under Section 305.003,   Government Code.          (g)  Notwithstanding Sections 39.402(a), 39.452(d), and   39.502(b), this section applies to an electric utility to which   Subchapter I, J, or K applies.          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, 2025.