Schwertner Bill Lets Utilities Decide Their Own Wildfire Risk

The text as introduced · 1,004 words

By: Schwertner
S.B. No. 2025

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to risk mitigation planning and associated liability for

providers of electric service.

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

SECTION 1. Section 36.064, Utilities Code, is amended by

amending Subsections (a) and (b) and by adding Subsections (c-1)

and (h) to read as follows:

(a) An electric utility may self-insure all or part of :

(1) the utility's potential liability or catastrophic

property loss, including windstorm, fire, wildfire, and explosion

losses, that could not have been reasonably anticipated and

included under operating and maintenance expenses ; and

(2) potential damages the utility may be liable for

resulting from personal injury or property damages caused by a

wildfire.

(b) The commission shall approve a self-insurance plan under

this section if the commission finds [ that ]:

(1) the coverage is in the public interest;

(2) one of the following:

(A) the plan, considering all costs, is a lower

cost alternative to purchasing commercial insurance;

(B) commercial insurance alone is insufficient

to cover potential liability, damages, or catastrophic property

loss; or

(C) the electric utility cannot obtai n

commercial insurance for a reasonable premium ; and

(3) ratepayers will receive the benefits of the

savings.

(c-1) In approving a self-insurance plan under this

section, the commission shall prioritize the consideration of the

presence and potential extent of wildfire losses, including:

(1) historical data;

(2) actuarial studies and analyses; and

(3) the possibility of the electric utility's exposure

to losses from multiple types of disasters occurring within the

utility's service territory.

(h) Subsection (a)(2) does not authorize the electric

utility to self-insure under this section for damages from a

wildfire event the utility caused intentionally, recklessly, or

with gross negligence.

SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.080 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.080. WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN; AFFIRMATIVE

DEFENSE. (a) In this section:

(1) "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency

Management.

(2) "First responder" has the meaning assigned by

Section 418.251, Government Code.

(3) "Plan" means a wildfire mitigation plan described

by Subsection (b).

(4) "Wildfire risk area" means an area determined by

the division or an affected electric utility, electric cooperative,

or municipally owned utility, to be at an elevated risk for

wildfire.

(b) An electric utility or an electric cooperative that owns

a transmission or distribution facility in a wildfire risk area

shall file, and a municipally owned utility or an electric utility

that is also a river authority may file, with the commission a

wildfire mitigation plan that includes the following:

(1) a description of each area to which the utility or

cooperative provides transmission or distribution service that is

in a wildfire risk area and the utility's or cooperative's process

for periodically inspecting the utility's or cooperative's

transmission and distribution facilities in those areas;

(2) a detailed plan for vegetation management in the

wildfire risk area;

(3) a detailed operations plan for reducing the

likelihood of wildfire ignition from the utility's or cooperative's

facilities and for responding to a wildfire;

(4) a description of the procedures the utility or

cooperative intends to use to restore the utility's or

cooperative's system during and after a wildfire event, including

contact information for the utility or cooperative that may be used

for coordination with the division and first responders;

(5) the utility's or cooperative's community outreach

and public awareness plan regarding wildfire risks and actual

wildfires affecting the utility's or cooperative's service

territory or system, including a specific communications plan for

responding to a wildfire event; and

(6) any other information the commission may require.

(c) The commission shall issue an order not later than the

60th day after a plan is filed with the commission that:

(1) approves the plan if the commission finds that

approval is in the public interest; or

(2) modifies or rejects the plan as necessary to be

consistent with the public interest.

(d) Subject to Subsection (e), an electric utility,

municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative for which the

commission has approved a plan is not liable for damages resulting

from a wildfire ignited or propagated by the utility's or

cooperative's facilities or actions unless a court of competent

jurisdiction finds that the utility or cooperative intentionally,

recklessly, or with negligence caused the damage.

(e) It is an affirmative defense to liability in a civil

action brought against an electric utility, municipally owned

utility, or electric cooperative for personal injury or property

damages caused by a wildfire ignited or propagated by the utility's

or cooperative's facilities if a court of competent jurisdiction

finds that the utility or cooperative was in material compliance

with relevant measures of its approved plan under this section.

SECTION 3. (a) The Public Utility Commission of Texas shall

adopt any rules as necessary to implement Sections 36.064,

Utilities Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 38.080,

Utilities Code, as added by this Act, not later than the 180th day

after the effective date of this Act.

(b) An electric utility, municipally owned utility or

electric cooperative may file a wildfire mitigation plan, as

authorized by Section 38.080, Utilities Code, as added by this Act

at any time after the effective date of this Act, regardless of

whether the Public Utility Commission of Texas has adopted any

rules described by Subsection (a) before the date of the filing;

provided, however, that such a plan is still subject to review,

modification, approval, or rejection under Section 38.080(c),

Utilities Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. Section 38.080, Utilities Code, as added by this

Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the

effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. 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.