Hernandez Energy Bill Creates A Council To Study And Recommend Policy

The text as introduced · 801 words

89R9526 ANG-F

By: Hernandez
H.B. No. 3826

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Efficiency Council.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended

by adding Chapter 18 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 18. TEXAS ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL

Sec. 18.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Council" means the Texas Energy Efficiency

Council.

(2) "Energy efficiency program" means a program

designed to:

(A) increase efficient energy use;

(B) facilitate emergency load management and,

for electric utilities operating in an area of the state not open to

competition, reduce energy consumption during periods of peak

energy demand;

(C) optimize energy consumption;

(D) identify and realize the benefits of energy

efficient building design standards; or

(E) fund the implementation of energy cost

reduction measures.

Sec. 18.002. PURPOSE. The Texas Energy Efficiency Council

is a council established in the commission to evaluate and make

recommendations for:

(1) providing a statewide collaborative approach to

promoting energy efficiency;

(2) measuring, evaluating, and reporting on energy

efficiency performance in this state;

(3) creating a process for monitoring and enhancing

energy efficiency programs in this state;

(4) facilitating opportunities for coordination and

leveraging of federal funding from the United States Department of

Energy, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development,

and other federal agencies that can be used by state agencies and

political subdivisions for the purposes of enhancing energy

efficiency; and

(5) providing a central repository for information on

statewide energy efficiency performance and opportunities to

participate in energy efficiency programs in this state.

Sec. 18.003. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP. (a) The council is

composed of nine ex officio members as follows:

(1) the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality;

(2) the chief executive officer of the Electric

Reliability Council of Texas;

(3) the presiding officer of the commission;

(4) the comptroller;

(5) the director of the Texas Department of Housing

and Community Affairs;

(6) the executive director of the Texas Economic

Development and Tourism Office;

(7) the chairman of the Texas Water Development Board;

(8) the director of the Energy Systems Laboratory at

the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station of The Texas A&M

University System; and

(9) the chief executive of the Office of Public

Utility Counsel.

(b) An ex officio member may designate a person from the

member's agency to serve in the member's place.

(c) The presiding officer of the commission or an employee

designated by the presiding officer under Subsection (b) shall

serve as presiding officer of the council.

(d) The council shall meet at least two times per year at the

call of the presiding officer.

Sec. 18.004. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall

provide the council with administrative support, including meeting

space and staff necessary to assist the council in carrying out the

council's duties under this chapter.

Sec. 18.005. OFFICIAL INTERNET WEBSITES. The council shall

use the following official Internet websites for the publication of

information as required by this chapter:

(1) the website of the State Energy Conservation

Office; and

(2) the website of the commission.

Sec. 18.006. LIST OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS. (a) The

council shall:

(1) develop a list of currently operating energy

efficiency programs in this state and publish the list on the

official Internet websites under Section 18.005; and

(2) work with the State Energy Conservation Office and

the commission to develop and publish on the official Internet

websites under Section 18.005 a user-friendly page that allows a

consumer to search by the consumer's address energy efficiency

programs available in the consumer's service area.

(b) The State Energy Conservation Office and the commission

each shall provide a link on their Internet websites to the page

described by Subsection (a)(2).

Sec. 18.007. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a)

Except as provided by this section, the council is not subject to

Chapter 551 or 552, Government Code.

(b) Information written, produced, collected, assembled, or

maintained under law or in connection with the transaction of

official business by the council or an officer or employee of the

council is subject to Section 552.008, Government Code, in the same

manner as public information.

Sec. 18.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. The council biennially shall

prepare a report that includes the evaluations and recommendations

required by Section 18.002. The council shall submit the report to

the legislature not later than January 15 of each odd-numbered

year.

Sec. 18.009. APPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW.

Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the council.

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.