Bill

HB 1607

87(R) - 2021
House State Affairs
House State Affairs
Utilities
Electricity

Contact the Author

Drew Darby

Phone:

512-463-0331

Capitol Office:

GW.17

Email:

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Negative
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Drew Darby
Ana Hernandez
Todd Hunter
Phil King
Eddie Lucio III

Co-Author(s)

Rafael Anchia
Charles Anderson
Trent Ashby
Ernest Bailes
Cecil Bell Jr.
John H Bucy III
DeWayne Burns
Angie Chen Button
Terry Canales
Giovanni Capriglione
Travis Clardy
John Cyrier
Alex Dominguez
Harold Dutton Jr.
Art Fierro
James Frank
Charlie Geren
Bobby Guerra
Ryan Guillen
Sam Harless
Gina Hinojosa
Donna Howard
Dan Huberty
Kyle Kacal
Ken King
Tracy King
Matt Krause
John Kuempel
Stan Lambert
Brooks Landgraf
Lyle Larson
Oscar Longoria
J.M. Lozano
Armando Martinez
Joe Moody
Eddie Morales
Andrew Murr
Tom Oliverson
Tan Parker
Four Price
John Raney
Richard Raymond
Toni Rose
Jon E. Rosenthal
Scott Sanford
Hugh Shine
Reggie Smith
John Smithee
David Spiller
Phil Stephenson
Lynn Stucky
James Talarico
Senfronia Thompson
Gary VanDeaver
Hubert Vo
Erin Zwiener

Bill Caption

Relating to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.


Bill Analysis

HB 1607 makes changes in the transmission process at ERCOT to attempt to address congestion issues that have prevented some renewable energy sources from getting their full energy output to customers. Projects under this bill have the ostensible purpose of replacing aging transmission infrastructure to minimize the need for the acquisition of new rights-of-way, minimizing interzonal constraints and intrazonal congestion during construction activities and accommodating higher voltages

This bill requires when granting a certificate for a project the public utilities commission (PUC) must take into account things like levelized costs, economic benefits, improvement in service, access and reliability, and estimated value of reduced cost of congestion among other things. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

By requiring the PUC to consider levelized costs, HB 1607 would have the effect of subsidizing expensive new renewable energy transmission infrastructure at great cost to ratepayers. The state should avoid intervening to tilt the scales in favor of one form of producer against another at ratepayers' expense. For these reasons, Texas Action opposes HB 1607.

Contact the Author

Drew Darby

Phone:

512-463-0331

Capitol Office:

GW.17

Email: