The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Texas bill directs Public Utility Commission to establish emergency power reserves for ERCOT to prevent blackouts
Last action · March 12, 2025: Referred to State AffairsSponsor: Jon Rosenthal
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What This Bill Proposed
The Public Utility Commission of Texas is required to adopt rules creating a process to procure and equitably share its costs in the ERCOT power region. The certified independent organization must then enter contracts and adopt procedures to ensure the availability of this reserve power. The reserve power can only be called upon after all other available power and demand reduction sources have been exhausted during shortages.
Changes how power reserves are maintained and funded in the ERCOT region, creating new cost-sharing mechanisms for emergency generation capacity and establishing strict sequential rules for when grid operators can trigger emergency reserves.
- The Public Utility Commission of Texas regulates the state's electric, telecommunication, and water utility services. context
- ERCOT manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers, representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Public Utility Commission of Texas
Must adopt rules establishing a process for procuring emergency reserve power and equitable cost-sharing mechanisms.
Independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region
Must adopt procedures and enter into contracts to ensure the availability of defined emergency reserve power generation capacity.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Public Utility Commission required to do under this bill?
When can ERCOT call on the emergency reserve power?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Mar 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to State Affairs
- Mar 12, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Dec 12, 2024HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz50Current news / social attention level
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