HBA-SEB H.B. 1782 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1782 By: Lewis, Ron Energy Resources 3/3/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Historically, natural gas has been measured in two different ways, by cubic feet or by British thermal units (BTUs). H.B. 1782 allows a gas company to report quantities of gas in whichever unit is readily available from the company's reporting system. Since federal law requires gas prices to be measured in BTUs, this bill enables a gas company to measure gas in the same unit of measure for both state and federal requirements. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 121.102, Subchapter C, Utilities Code, by adding Subsection (7), as follows: (7) Authorizes any requirement to report gas volumes or quantities pursuant to this statute (Operator's Report) or another statute or rule to be satisfied by reporting either the number of cubic feet or the number of British thermal units as shown on the readily available books and records of the reporting entity. This section authorizes the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) to require a person or corporation that owns, controls, or operates a gas pipeline to report specific information about the gas and the pipeline to the commission. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.