Update: Texas Bill With TDU-Run Load Management Program Passes On Third Reading

Update, 3/31, 11:30 am ET:

HB 11, with a further clarifying amendment adopted on the floor this morning, has been passed by the House on third reading.

The newly adopted amendment further clarifies that the load management program is only able to be deployed during an emergency declared by ERCOT. Text for the latest amendment was not immediately available

Otherwise, the bill passed on third reading is unchanged from our description below

The bill now moves to the Senate

Earlier:

Text for an adopted amendment to HB 11, which as first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com yesterday would provide that TDUs may run an emergency load management program, has been posted

As previously noted, HB 11 was passed to engrossment and is awaiting a third reading and final passage

During floor discussion of the amendment, the program was described as being available to "commercial" customers, but the text actually provides that the program may be offered to all non-residential customers

The amendment states, "Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle, the commission [PUC] shall allow a transmission and distribution utility to design and operate a load management program for non-residential customers to be used during an extreme weather emergency or times of constraint in its service territory, in addition to and separate from any load management program operated as part of its portfolio of energy efficiency programs."

"A transmission and distribution utility implementing a load management program under this subsection shall be permitted to recover the reasonable and necessary costs of the load management program under Chapter 36," the adopted amendment states

"A load management program operated under this subsection is not considered a competitive service," the adopted amendment states