S.B. No. 1877 amends the Utilities Code to enhance the authority of the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC) regarding access to data relevant to utility regulation. The bill specifies that the OPUC is entitled to the same access as a party, excluding commission staff, to records gathered by the commission. Additionally, it allows the OPUC to request and receive electricity market data, including information on reliability, generation resource adequacy, long-term transmission planning, and system resiliency from the commission, the independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region, and electric utilities.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new subsection that establishes confidentiality for the information received by the OPUC under the new provisions, ensuring that such data is not subject to disclosure if it would be confidential under existing laws if held by the commission. This legislation is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and aims to strengthen the representation of residential and small commercial consumers in utility matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Utilities Code 13.003 (Utilities Code 13)
Senate Committee Report: Utilities Code 13.003 (Utilities Code 13)
Engrossed: Utilities Code 13.003 (Utilities Code 13)
House Committee Report: Utilities Code 13.003 (Utilities Code 13)
Enrolled: Utilities Code 13.003 (Utilities Code 13)