Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

   
      87(R) SB 1470 - Introduced version - Bill Text
      
		By:  Buckingham
            S.B.  No.  1470
         
               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
            
               AN ACT
            
            relating to chilled water service and district cooling systems.
         
                          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         
                          SECTION  1.    Section 11.003, Utilities Code, is amended by 
         
            adding Subdivision (8-a) and amending Subdivision (11) to read as 
         
            follows: 
         
                                      (8-a) "District cooling system"  means a system that 
         
            produces chilled water at a central plant and pipes that water to 
         
            buildings for air conditioning.
         
                                      (11) "Municipally owned utility"  means a utility owned, 
         
            operated, and controlled by a municipality or by a nonprofit 
         
            corporation the directors of which are appointed by one or more 
         
            municipalities and includes any district cooling system operated by 
         
            the utility.
         
                          SECTION  2.    Section 552.133 (a-1)(2), Government Code, is 
         
            amended by adding Subdivision (P) to read as follows:
         
                                          (P)    information related to a chilled water program 
         
            or program designed to used chilled water to reduce peak demand.
         
                          SECTION  3.    Section 552.113 (b), Government Code, is amended 
         
            to read as follows:
         
                          (b)    Information or records are excepted from the 
         
            requirements of Section 552.021 if the information or records are 
         
            reasonably related to a competitive matter, as defined in this 
         
            section.  Information or records of a municipally owned utility 
         
            that are reasonably related to a competitive matter are not subject 
         
            to disclosure under this chapter, whether or not, under the 
         
            Utilities Code, the municipally owned utility has adopted customer 
         
            choice or serves in a multiply certificated service area.  This 
         
            section does not limit the right of a public power utility governing 
         
            body to withhold from disclosure information deemed to be within 
         
            the scope of any other exception provided for in this chapter, 
         
            subject to the provisions of this chapter.  Information reasonably 
         
            related to a municipally owned utility's rate review process and 
         
            how the municipality or municipally owned utility sets rates for 
         
            electric service and chilled water service or any other service 
         
            designed by the municipality or municipally owned utility to curb 
         
            peak demand or shift load are subject to disclosure under this 
         
            chapter and are not excepted from disclosure under this Act.
         
                          SECTION  4.    This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
         
Statutes affected: 
Introduced: 11.003 Utilities Code, 552.133 Government Code, 552.113 Government Code


	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to chilled water service and district cooling systems.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 11.003, Utilities Code, is amended by
	adding Subdivision (8-a) and amending Subdivision (11) to read as
	follows:
	(8-a) "District cooling system" means a system that
	produces chilled water at a central plant and pipes that water to
	buildings for air conditioning.
	(11) "Municipally owned utility" means a utility owned,
	operated, and controlled by a municipality or by a nonprofit
	corporation the directors of which are appointed by one or more
	municipalities and includes any district cooling system operated by
	the utility.
	SECTION 2. Section 552.133 (a-1)(2), Government Code, is
	amended by adding Subdivision (P) to read as follows:
	(P) information related to a chilled water program
	or program designed to used chilled water to reduce peak demand.
	SECTION 3. Section 552.113 (b), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b) Information or records are excepted from the
	requirements of Section 552.021 if the information or records are
	reasonably related to a competitive matter, as defined in this
	section. Information or records of a municipally owned utility
	that are reasonably related to a competitive matter are not subject
	to disclosure under this chapter, whether or not, under the
	Utilities Code, the municipally owned utility has adopted customer
	choice or serves in a multiply certificated service area. This
	section does not limit the right of a public power utility governing
	body to withhold from disclosure information deemed to be within
	the scope of any other exception provided for in this chapter,
	subject to the provisions of this chapter. Information reasonably
	related to a municipally owned utility's rate review process and
	how the municipality or municipally owned utility sets rates for
	electric service and chilled water service or any other service
	designed by the municipality or municipally owned utility to curb
	peak demand or shift load are subject to disclosure under this
	chapter and are not excepted from disclosure under this Act.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.