HB 3069 Texas House · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the approval of a certificate of convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects.

HB 3069 requires Texas' Public Utility Commission to establish new criteria for approving certain transmission projects in the ERCOT power grid that aren't needed for reliability. It mandates a 10-year cost-benefit analysis comparing project costs to estimated congestion savings for electricity consumers, applying a 3% discount to savings after year 5. The bill directly affects utility companies seeking transmission project approvals and Texas electricity consumers who bear associated costs. This policy change modifies how the Commission evaluates projects, focusing on long-term consumer savings rather than just grid reliability.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 20, 2025 Last action May 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · May 6, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends the Texas Utilities Code to update transmission project approval criteria, adding new requirements for evaluating multi-decade transmission planning and allowing the use of independent organization evaluations. The changes expand how the Public Utility Commission assesses transmission projects serving the ERCOT power region by requiring consideration of long-term cost savings and customer benefits.

Scope change

The bill applies to proceedings affecting certificates of public convenience and necessity that commence on or after September 1, 2026, while maintaining existing rules for proceedings that started before that date.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsections (d-1) and (d-2) to Section 37.056 requiring the commission to establish multi-decade transmission planning criteria that evaluate potential customer savings using methods like discount rates, hurdle rates, or scenario planning.

Added authority for the commission to use evaluations conducted by independent organizations certified under Section 39.151 when considering transmission project certificates.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date for new proceedings from September 1, 2025 to September 1, 2026, while keeping the general act effective date at September 1, 2025.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirements for the Public Utility Commission to adopt implementing rules by September 1, 2026, and directed the independent organization to take necessary implementation actions by the same date.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2025

How they voted

135–9

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 146

May 6, 2025

D Democratic60

60 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican86

75 Yea 9 Nay 2

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Left pending in committee

upper

May 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Testimony taken in committee

upper

May 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Business & Commerce

upper

May 7, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

upper

May 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from the House

upper

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed

lower

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed to engrossment

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report sent to Calendars

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report distributed

lower

Apr 9, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably as substituted

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Left pending in committee

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to State Affairs

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Read first time

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors