Hancock’s bill on oil field power lines

The text as introduced · 357 words

89R10085 ANG-D

By: Hancock
S.B. No. 2980

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas and

the Public Utility Commission of Texas to address a failure by an

operator to maintain an electrical power line serving a well site or

certain surface facilities in accordance with the National

Electrical Code.

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

SECTION 1. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 91.019. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND

MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall

construct, operate, and maintain an electrical power line serving a

well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident

to oil and gas development and production in accordance with the

National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection

Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and

Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code.

(b) If, during an inspection of a well site or surface

facility employed in operations incident to oil and gas development

and production, the commission discovers a condition involving an

electrical power line that does not meet the standards described by

Subsection (a), the commission shall notify the Public Utility

Commission of Texas. To resolve the condition, the commission and

the Public Utility Commission of Texas, in collaboration, shall:

(1) notify the applicable electric utility providing

electric power to the well site or surface facility of the condition

and require the electric utility to make a determination regarding

whether electric power should be disconnected from the site or

facility;

(2) request that the state fire marshal or a local

government authority inspect the well site or surface facility and

require the operator to mitigate any dangerous conditions

identified by the state fire marshal or local government authority;

or

(3) issue notice to the applicable electric utility to

investigate the condition and disconnect electric service, if

necessary.

SECTION 2. Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, as

amended by this Act, applies to an inspection that occurs on or

after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.