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Committee reviews substitute to codify interagency process for disconnecting power at hazardous well sites
Summary
A committee substitute to House Bill 143 would codify an MOU between the Railroad Commission and the Public Utility Commission allowing coordinated notices and disconnection of electrical service at well sites posing wildfire risk; sponsors said agencies and stakeholders reached agreement on inspection responsibilities, timelines and restoration.
The committee substitute to House Bill 143 would codify a memorandum of understanding developed after 2024 wildfires, clarifying how the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas coordinate to notify electric utilities and, where necessary, disconnect power at well sites with safety concerns.
Senator Hancock, sponsor in the Senate, told the Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development that the substitute clarifies responsibilities and inspection requirements for operators and landholders, sets timelines for agency notices and actions, identifies who may disconnect service and where, and specifies when the Railroad Commission may access property for inspection.
A sponsor summary noted the substitute was negotiated with both agencies and stakeholders and seeks to assign accountability without imposing an excessive statewide fiscal burden. Committee members praised the detailed, line‑by‑line negotiations and said the substitute reduces the risk of a broad, costly state requirement while preserving a tool to address hazardous electrical conditions at well sites.
Committee staff indicated a prior fiscal estimate was high (a late $17 million estimate mentioned earlier) and that the substitute reduced that impact, but a final fiscal note will be needed if the committee moves the bill to the floor. The bill was left pending; sponsors said they expect to work with the author of a related bill and with budget staff on a final fiscal analysis before a potential vote.
No formal vote was recorded at this hearing for the committee substitute.
