Relating to a study and report on burying power lines in the Gulf Coast region.

The text as introduced · 324 words

90R3896 EMS-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 595

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study and report on burying power lines in the Gulf

Coast region.

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

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Commission" means the Public Utility Commission

of Texas.

(2) "Study area" means the area in the state located

within 150 miles of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

SECTION 2. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:

(1) the study area is prone to weather-related power

outages;

(2) underground power lines are more resistant than

overhead power lines to extreme weather conditions; and

(3) burying power lines in the study area could reduce

the number of weather-related power outages in the study area.

SECTION 3. STUDY. (a) The commission shall evaluate for

the study area the potential:

(1) cost of burying existing overhead power lines;

(2) cost of maintaining and repairing underground

power lines;

(3) cost savings associated with reduced

weather-related power outages; and

(4) use of technologies developed or tested in the

Department of Energy's Grid Overhaul with Proactive, High-Speed

Undergrounding for Reliability, Resilience, and Security program

in the study area.

(b) The commission shall evaluate the potential benefits of

an environmental feasibility study to analyze:

(1) the potential effects on land use of burying power

lines in the study area;

(2) the potential benefits of incorporating advanced

technologies into buried infrastructure in the study area; and

(3) the various types of topography in the study area

and any topographical considerations that should be accounted for

when burying power lines.

SECTION 4. REPORT. The commission shall submit a report of

the results of the study and any recommendations to the governor,

lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives

not later than September 1, 2028.

SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires October 31,

2028.

SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September

1, 2027.