89R24938 JXC-F By: Guillen H.B. No. 4581 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4581: By: King C.S.H.B. No. 4581 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to temporary emergency energy facilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 39.918, Utilities Code, is amended by amending Subsections (d) and (f) and adding Subsections (f-1), (f-2), (f-3), (f-4), (k), (l), (m), and (n) to read as follows: (d) A facility [Facilities] described by Subsection (b)(1): (1) must be operated in isolation from the bulk power system; [and] (2) may not be included in independent system operator: (A) locational marginal pricing calculations; (B) pricing; or (C) reliability models; and (3) must be: (A) mobile; and (B) capable of generating electric energy within three hours after being connected to a demand source. (f) A transmission and distribution utility shall[, when reasonably practicable,] use a competitive bidding process to lease facilities under Subsection (b)(1). (f-1) A transmission and distribution utility may not enter into a lease under Subsection (b)(1) unless: (1) the commission first, in a rate proceeding or a separate contested case hearing, authorizes: (A) the total generating capacity the utility may lease; and (B) the functions for which the utility may lease facilities and the generation capacity the utility may lease for each function; or (2) the lease includes a provision that allows alteration of the lease based on commission order or rule. (f-2) The commission may limit the period during which an authorization issued under Subsection (f-1) is valid. (f-3) Notwithstanding Subsections (f) and (f-1)(1), a transmission and distribution utility may enter into a lease under Subsection (b)(1) without competitive bidding or prior commission approval if: (1) the transmission and distribution utility lacks the leased generating capacity necessary to aid in restoring power to the utility's customers during a significant power outage; (2) the amount of leased generating capacity does not significantly exceed the amount of megawatts necessary to restore electric service to the utility's customers during a significant power outage; and (3) the term of the lease does not significantly exceed the time period that is required to restore electric service to the utility's customers during a significant power outage. (f-4) A transmission and distribution utility that enters into a lease in the manner provided by Subsection (f-3) shall provide documentation to justify the amount of leased generating capacity during the first base rate proceeding after the date the lease begins. (k) The Texas Division of Emergency Management, in coordination with the commission and transmission and distribution utilities, shall develop an annex to the state emergency management plan prepared under Section 418.042, Government Code, that addresses planning for deploying facilities leased under Subsection (b). The annex must include procedures for transmission and distribution utilities to maintain a current list of facilities leased under Subsection (b), information submitted to the commission under Subsection (n), and facilities available to be deployed through mutual aid agreements. (l) The list maintained under Subsection (k) must be accessible, on request, to each transmission and distribution utility, the commission, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and each state agency with emergency response duties. Each transmission and distribution utility that leases a facility described by Subsection (b) shall notify the commission not later than the 30th day after the date of a change in the utility's lease of the facility. (m) The commission by rule shall require a transmission and distribution utility that leases a facility described by Subsection (b) to offer to enter into mutual aid agreements with other transmission and distribution utilities to facilitate the deployment of undeployed facilities on the request of another transmission and distribution utility. (n) The commission by rule shall require a transmission and distribution utility that enters into a mutual aid agreement described by Subsection (m) to: (1) provide to the commission information regarding the agreement not later than the 30th day after the date the utility enters into the agreement; and (2) not later than the 30th day after the date of any change in the required information, provide updated information to the commission. SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act to Section 39.918(d), Utilities Code, apply only to a temporary emergency electric energy facility leased by a transmission and distribution utility on or after the effective date of this Act. A temporary emergency electric energy facility that was leased by a transmission and distribution utility under Section 39.918(b)(1), Utilities Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the lease was executed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall require a transmission and distribution utility to which Section 39.918(m), Utilities Code, as added by this Act, applies to make offers for mutual aid agreements before June 1, 2026. 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, 2025.