By: Anchia H.B. No. 4562       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the extreme weather emergency preparedness of   facilities providing gas or fuel to be used in the production of an   electric service; requiring reporting.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources   Code, is amended by adding Section 81.073 to read as follows:          Sec. 81.073.  WEATHER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.  (a) In this   section, "extreme weather emergency" means a period when:                (1)  the previous day's highest temperature did not   exceed 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the temperature is predicted to   remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the   nearest National Weather Service reports; or                (2)  the National Weather Service issues a heat   advisory for any county in the relevant service territory, or when   such an advisory has been issued on any one of the previous two   calendar 16 days.          (b)  The commission by rule shall require each provider of   gas supply for generation in the ERCOT power region to:                (1)  implement measures to prepare generation   facilities, including weatherization protocols and standards, to   provide adequate supply during an extreme weather emergency;                (2)  make all reasonable efforts to prevent   interruptions of gas supply during an extreme weather emergency;                (3)  reestablish supply within the shortest possible   time, should an interruption occur due to an extreme weather   emergency; and                (4)  make reasonable efforts to manage emergencies   resulting from a failure of service caused by an extreme weather   emergency, including issuing instructions to its employees on   procedures to be followed in the event of an extreme weather   emergency.          (c)  The rules adopted under Subsection (b) may not neglect   any local neighborhood or geographic area, including rural areas,   communities of less than 1000 people, and low-income areas.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources   Code, is amended by adding Section 81.074 to read as follows:          Sec. 81.074.  REPORTING INCIDENTS. (a) In this section,   "extreme weather emergency" has the meaning assigned by Section   81.073, Natural Resources Code.          (b)  The commission by rule shall require each provider of   gas producers providing supply intended for generation in the ERCOT   power region to:                (1)  Register with the Transmission Distribution   Utility serving the power for the location of the gas wellhead,   equipment or facility, as critical infrastructure.                (2)  Contact the Transmission Distribution Utility   providing the power to the gas wellhead, equipment or facility   within 4 hours after power is lost during an extreme weather   emergency.                (3)  Report outages of power to gas wellheads,   equipment or a facility providing gas for supply of electric   generation in the ERCOT region within 4 hours of notification or   knowledge of power loss and during an extreme weather emergency;          (c)  The commission shall require incident reports for power   outages that result in a loss of gas supply intended for electric   generation in the ERCOT market.          (d)  The commission shall develop an electronic process of   filing all incident reports.          (e)  The commission shall provide immediate and free access   to the reporting of incidents. This shall be provided on the   commission website for viewing as reports are made.          (f)  The commission shall develop the electronic reporting   system and provide the website access by November 1, 2021. The   information included shall begin with incident reports filed with   the commission beginning January 1, 2021.          SECTION 3.  The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt   rules as required by Sections 81.073 and 81.074, Natural Resources   Code, as added by this Act, not later than November 1, 2020.          SECTION 4.  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, 2021.