Energy Waste Committee Meets Quarterly, Mostly Outside Open Meetings Law

The text as introduced · 528 words

89R14315 CS-D

By: King
H.B. No. 5323

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Energy Waste Advisory

Committee.

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 WASTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Sec. 18.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee"

means the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee.

Sec. 18.002. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE. The Texas Energy

Waste Advisory Committee is created to make recommendations for

coordinating and improving state agency and interagency programs

that reduce energy waste, increase energy efficiency, and enhance

demand response programs in order to increase reliability of

electric service in the ERCOT power region in accordance with

Section 39.159.

Sec. 18.003. COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP. (a) The committee is

composed of seven ex officio members as follows:

(1) the presiding officer of the commission;

(2) the chief executive officer of the independent

organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power

region;

(3) the comptroller;

(4) the executive director of the Texas Department of

Licensing and Regulation;

(5) the director of the Texas Department of Housing

and Community Affairs;

(6) the presiding officer of the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality; and

(7) the commissioner of the General Land Office.

(b) An ex officio member may designate an employee of the

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

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

of the commission designated by the presiding officer shall serve

as the chair of the committee.

(d) The committee shall meet quarterly at the call of the

chair.

Sec. 18.004. PROGRAM EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. To

improve the reliability of electric service in the ERCOT power

region, the committee shall solicit information from and make

recommendations to the following state agencies and organizations

regarding state programs that have the potential to reduce demand

for electricity in the ERCOT wholesale market during high risk

hours identified by the commission:

(1) the commission;

(2) the independent organization certified under

Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region;

(3) the comptroller;

(4) the State Energy Conservation Office;

(5) the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation;

(6) the Texas Department of Housing and Community

Affairs;

(7) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; and

(8) the General Land Office.

Sec. 18.005. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The commission shall

provide the committee with administrative support, including

meeting space and staff necessary to assist the committee in

carrying out the committee's duties under this chapter.

Sec. 18.006. CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION. (a)

Except as provided by Subsection (b), the committee 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 committee or an officer or employee of the

committee is subject to Section 552.008, Government Code, in the

same manner as public information.

Sec. 18.007. REPORT. Not later than September 1 of each

even-numbered year, the committee shall provide to the legislature

a report on the committee's activities and recommendations.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.