SB1665 - Relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on the feasibility of constructing certain extra high voltage transmission lines.

  89R14040 CXP-D     By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1665       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a study by the Public Utility Commission of Texas on the   feasibility of constructing certain extra high voltage   transmission lines.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 39, Utilities Code, is   amended by adding Section 39.1671 to read as follows:           Sec.   39.1671.     STUDY OF CONSTRUCTION OF 765-KILOVOLT   TRANSMISSION LINE. (a) The commission may not approve the   construction of a 765-kilovolt transmission line for the execution   of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (Project 55718) as   recommended in the Texas 765-kilovolt Strategic Transmission   Expansion Plan submitted by the independent organization certified   under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region unless the   commission first conducts a study to consider:                 (1)     the performance of extra high voltage transmission   lines under a variety of dispatch scenarios, including different   times of day, times of year, and weather conditions;                 (2)     estimated costs to ratepayers, with a particular   emphasis on the estimated costs to residential customers;                 (3)     factors that may contribute to cost overruns and   potential mitigation of cost overruns; and                 (4)     supply chain and workforce limitations that may   delay project buildout or contribute to cost overruns.           (b)     Subject to Subsection (c), the commission shall submit   the results of the study conducted under Subsection (a) to an   independent third party for review.           (c)     The commission may not submit the results of the study   to a third party that conducted a similar study of extra high   voltage transmission lines on behalf of the independent   organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power   region or another market participant after January 1, 2020.           (d)  This section expires September 1, 2029.          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.