CHAPTER 163. JOINT POWERS AGENCIES
UTILITIES CODE
TITLE 4. DELIVERY OF UTILITY SERVICES
SUBTITLE A. UTILITY CORPORATIONS AND OTHER PROVIDERS
CHAPTER 163. JOINT POWERS AGENCIES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 163.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Electric facility" means a facility necessary or incidental
to generating or transmitting electric power and energy,
including:
(A) a generating unit or plant or a plant site;
(B) transmission lines;
(C) a right-of-way or other right relating to a facility; and
(D) property and equipment.
(2) "Entity" means a person who engages in the authorized
generation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy for
sale to the public.
(3) "Private entity" means an entity that is not a public
entity.
(4) "Public entity" means an entity that is an agency or
political subdivision of this state.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.002. REPORT ON PROBLEMS. (a) The commission shall
analyze the financial problems of the municipal power agency
described by Subsection (b). Before September 1, 2000, the
commission shall present recommendations for solving the problems
to the speaker of the house of representatives, the lieutenant
governor, the members of the legislature, and the municipal power
agency.
(b) This subsection applies to a municipal power agency as
defined by this chapter that has stranded costs in excess of
$6,000 per customer as determined by the April 1998 Report to the
Texas Senate Interim Committee on Electric Utility Restructuring
entitled "Potentially Strandable Investment (ECOM) Report: 1998
Update."
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 405, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1,
1999.
SUBCHAPTER B. COOPERATION BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES
Sec. 163.011. EFFECT OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter does not
affect:
(1) the statutory purposes prescribed by state law relating to
creating, establishing, or operating an entity that co-owns a
facility;
(2) an entity's rights or powers in effect on August 27, 1973,
relating to the generation, transmission, distribution, or sale
of electric power and energy; or
(3) a contract in effect on August 27, 1973.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.012. AUTHORITY TO MAKE AGREEMENTS. Public and private
entities may by agreement jointly plan, finance, acquire,
construct, own, operate, and maintain electric facilities to:
(1) achieve economies of scale in providing electric energy to
the public;
(2) promote the economic development of this state and its
natural resources; and
(3) meet the state's future power needs.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.013. GENERAL RIGHTS, POWERS, AND DUTIES OF ENTITIES.
(a) A participating entity may:
(1) use its means and assets to plan, acquire, construct, own,
operate, and maintain its interest in an electric facility;
(2) issue bonds and other securities to raise money for a
purpose described by Subdivision (1) in the same manner and to
the same extent and subject to the same conditions as would be
applicable if the entity had sole ownership of the electric
facility;
(3) acquire, for the use and benefit of each participating
entity, land, easements, and property for an electric facility by
purchase or by exercising the power of eminent domain; and
(4) transfer or otherwise convey the acquired land, property, or
property interest or otherwise cause the land, property, or
interest to become vested in other participating entities to the
extent to which and in the manner in which the participating
entities agree.
(b) Each participating entity is a cotenant or co-owner of the
electric facility and in relation to the entity's undivided
interest in the facility has each right, privilege, exemption,
power, duty, and liability the entity would have had if the
entity had sole ownership.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.014. USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) A participating
entity has the power of eminent domain to be exercised as
provided by this section.
(b) The use of eminent domain authority by a participating
entity is governed by the law relating to an eminent domain
proceeding involving a municipality in this state.
(c) A participating entity may acquire a fee title to the
condemned real property.
(d) A participating entity may not use eminent domain authority
to acquire:
(1) an interest in an electric facility that belongs to another
entity; or
(2) an interest in real property to drill, mine, or produce from
that property oil, gas, geothermal resources,
geothermal/geopressured resources, or lignite, coal, sulphur,
uranium, plutonium, or other minerals that belong to another
person regardless of whether the material is in place or is in
the process of being drilled, mined, or produced.
(e) Subsection (d) does not affect the authority of a
participating entity to acquire full title to real property for a
plant site and any related surface installation or equipment,
including a cooling reservoir.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.015. TAXATION. (a) A participating private entity
shall render for ad valorem taxation its undivided fractional
interest in a jointly owned electric facility. An ad valorem or
similar tax shall be imposed separately against the undivided
interest of the participating private entity.
(b) A tax or assessment, including an excise tax or sales and
use tax, attributable to a property or service bought, sold,
leased, or used to construct, maintain, repair, or operate a
jointly owned electric facility shall be imposed separately
against each participating entity in proportion to the entity's
respective undivided interest in the facility.
(c) A participating entity is not liable for a tax or assessment
attributable to another participating entity under Subsection (a)
or (b).
(d) A participating entity is entitled to each constitutional or
statutory ad valorem or other tax exemption attributable to the
jointly owned electric facility or to a property or service
bought, sold, leased, or used to construct, maintain, repair, or
operate the facility to the extent the entity would have been
exempt from the tax if the entity's undivided interest were an
entire interest in the facility or in the property or service.
The entity is entitled to any applicable exemption certificate or
statement provided by law to claim or prove the exemption.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.016. INSURANCE. A participating entity may:
(1) contract for insurance, including specialized insurance for
property and risks relating to the ownership, operation, and
maintenance of electric facilities;
(2) contract for insurance for the use and benefit of each of
the other participating entities as though the insurance was for
the sole benefit of the contracting entity; and
(3) cause the rights of the other participating entities to be
protected under the contract in accordance with each entity's
undivided interest or entitlement under any applicable agreement
between the entities.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
SUBCHAPTER C. MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCIES
Sec. 163.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Agency" means a municipal power agency created under this
subchapter.
(2) "Bond" includes a note, but does not include a nonnegotiable
purchase money note issued under Section 163.067.
(3) "Concurrent ordinance" means an ordinance or order adopted
under this subchapter by two or more public entities that relates
to the creation or re-creation of a municipal power agency.
(4) "Obligations" means revenue bonds or notes.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.052. CONSTRUCTION. This subchapter shall be liberally
construed to carry out its purpose.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.053. CONFLICTS WITH OTHER LAW. This subchapter
prevails to the extent of a conflict between this subchapter and
any other law, including:
(1) a law regulating the affairs of a municipal corporation; or
(2) a home-rule charter provision.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.054. CREATION OF AGENCY. (a) Public entities may
create an agency by concurrent ordinances subject to voter
approval.
(b) A public entity may join in the creation of an agency under
this subchapter only if on May 8, 1975, and at the time the
concurrent ordinance is adopted, the entity was engaged in the
authorized generation of electric energy for sale to the public.
This subsection does not prohibit a public entity from disposing
of its electric generating capabilities after creation of the
agency.
(c) An agency is a:
(1) separate municipal corporation;
(2) political subdivision of this state; and
(3) political entity and corporate body.
(d) An agency may not impose a tax but has all the other powers
relating to municipally owned utilities and provided by law to a
municipality that owns a public utility.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.055. RE-CREATION OF AGENCY. (a) The public entities
that create an agency may by concurrent ordinances re-create the
agency by adding or deleting, or both, a public entity.
(b) The public entities may not re-create an agency if the
re-creation will impair an agency obligation.
(c) Re-creation by adding a public entity is subject to voter
approval in accordance with Section 163.058.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.056. NOTICE. (a) The governing body of each public
entity shall publish notice of its intention to create an agency
once a week for two consecutive weeks.
(b) The first publication must appear before the 14th day before
the date set for passage of the concurrent ordinance.
(c) The notice must state:
(1) the date, time, and location at which the governing body
proposes to enact the concurrent ordinance; and
(2) that an agency will be created on the date on which the
concurrent ordinances take effect.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.057. CONTENTS OF CONCURRENT ORDINANCE. A concurrent
ordinance creating an agency under Section 163.054 or re-creating
an agency under Section 163.055 must, as adopted by each public
entity:
(1) contain identical provisions;
(2) define the boundaries of the agency to include the territory
within the boundaries of each participating public entity;
(3) designate the name of the agency; and
(4) designate the number, place, initial term, and manner of
appointment of directors in accordance with Section 163.059.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.058. ELECTION. (a) An agency may not be created
unless the creation is approved by a majority of the qualified
voters of each public entity creating the agency at an election
called and held for that purpose.
(b) An agency may not be re-created by addition of a public
entity unless the re-creation is approved by a majority of the
qualified voters of the additional public entity at an election
called and held for that purpose.
(c) Notice of an election under this section shall be given in
accordance with Section 1251.003, Government Code. The election
shall be called and held in accordance with:
(1) the Election Code;
(2) Chapter 1251, Government Code; and
(3) this subchapter.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 8.404, eff. Sept.
1, 2001.
Sec. 163.059. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) The agency shall be
governed by a board of directors. The board is responsible for
the management, operation, and control of the property belonging
to the agency.
(b) The board must include at least four directors. Each
director must be appointed by place by the governing bodies of
the participating public entities. Each participating public
entity is entitled to appoint at least one director.
(c) Directors must serve staggered terms. Successor directors
are appointed in the same manner as the original appointees.
(d) To qualify to serve as a director, a person must be a
qualified voter and reside in the boundaries of the appointing
public entity when the person takes the constitutional oath of
office.
(e) An employee, officer, or member of the governing body of a
public entity may serve as a director but may not have a personal
interest in a contract executed by the agency other than as an
employee, officer, or member of the governing body of the public
entity.
(f) Directors serve without compensation.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.060. POWERS. (a) An agency may not engage in any
utility business other than the generation, transmission, and
sale or exchange of electric energy to:
(1) a participating public entity; or
(2) a private entity that owns jointly with the agency an
electric generating facility in this state.
(b) The agency may:
(1) perform any act necessary to the full exercise of the
agency's powers;
(2) enter into a contract, lease, or agreement with or accept a
grant or loan from a:
(A) department or agency of the United States;
(B) department, agency, or political subdivision of this state;
or
(C) public or private person;
(3) sell, lease, convey, or otherwise dispose of any right,
interest, or property the agency considers to be unnecessary for
the efficient maintenance or operation of its electric
facilities;
(4) use the uniform system of accounts prescribed for utilities
and licenses by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and
(5) adopt rules to govern the operation of the agency and its
employees, facilities, and service.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.061. CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS. (a) Except as provided
by Subsection (c), an agency may award a contract for
construction of an improvement that involves the expenditure of
more than $20,000 only on the basis of competitive bids.
(b) The agency shall publish notice of intent to receive bids
once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general
circulation in this state. The first publication must appear
before the 14th day before the date bids are to be received.
(c) An entity that has joint ownership of the improvement to be
constructed or that is an agent of a joint owner shall award a
contract using the entity's contracting procedures.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.062. SALE OR EXCHANGE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY. (a) An
agency may participate through appropriate contracts in power
pooling and power exchange agreements with other entities through
direct or indirect system interconnections.
(b) An entity that participates with an agency under this
section may:
(1) purchase electric energy from the agency;
(2) sell or dispose of electric energy to the agency; or
(3) exchange electric energy with the agency.
(c) An entity payment for electric energy purchased from the
agency is an operating expense of the entity's electric system.
(d) An agency contract to sell or exchange electric energy may
require the purchaser to pay for the electric energy regardless
of whether the electric energy is produced or delivered.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.063. RATES AND CHARGES. (a) An agency may establish
and maintain rates and charges for electric power and energy the
agency delivers, transmits, or exchanges. The rates and charges
must:
(1) be reasonable and in accordance with prudent utility
practices;
(2) be based on periodic cost of service studies and subject to
modification, unless such a basis for rates and charges is waived
by the purchaser by contract; and
(3) be developed to recover the agency's cost of producing and
transmitting the electric power and energy, as applicable, which
cost must include the amortization of capital investment.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this state reserves its
power to regulate an agency's rates and charges for electric
energy supplied by the agency's facilities.
(c) Until obligations issued under this subchapter have been
paid and discharged, with all interest on the obligations,
interest on unpaid interest installments on the obligations, and
other connected and incurred costs or expenses, this state
pledges to and agrees with the purchasers and successive holders
of the obligations that it will not:
(1) limit or alter the power of an agency to establish and
collect rates and charges under this section sufficient to pay:
(A) necessary operational and maintenance expenses;
(B) interest and principal on obligations issued by the agency;
(C) sinking funds and reserve fund payments; and
(D) other charges necessary to fulfill the terms of any
agreement; or
(2) take any action that will impair the rights or remedies of
the holders of the obligations.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.064. REVENUE BONDS. (a) The agency may issue revenue
bonds to accomplish the purposes of the agency.
(b) The agency may pledge to the payment of the obligations the
revenues of all or part of its electric facilities, including
facilities acquired after the obligations are issued. However,
operating and maintenance expenses, including salaries and labor,
materials, and repairs of electric facilities necessary to render
efficient service constitute a first lien on and charge against
the pledged revenue.
(c) The agency may set aside from the proceeds from the sale of
the obligations amounts for payment into the interest and sinking
fund and reserve fund, and for interest and operating expenses
during construction and development, as specified in the
proceedings authorizing the obligations.
(d) Obligation proceeds may be invested, pending their use, in
securities, interest-bearing certificates, or time deposits as
specified in the authorizing proceedings.
(e) Agency obligations are authorized investments for:
(1) a bank;
(2) a savings bank;
(3) a trust company;
(4) a savings and loan association; and
(5) an insurance company.
(f) The obligations, when accompanied by all appurtenant,
unmatured coupons and to the extent of the lesser of their face
value or market value, are eligible to secure the deposit of
public funds of this state, a political subdivision of this
state, and any other political corporation of this state.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.065. REFUNDING BONDS. The agency may issue refunding
bonds.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.066. ISSUANCE, FORM, AND PROVISIONS OF BONDS. (a)
Agency bonds that are payable from agency revenues or anticipated
bond proceeds and the records relating to their issuance must be
submitted to the attorney general for examination before
delivery.
(b) The bonds:
(1) must mature serially or otherwise not more than 50 years
after the date of issuance;
(2) may be made redeemable before maturity at the time and at
the price or prices set by the agency; and
(3) may be sold at public or private sale under the terms and
for the price the agency determines to be in the best interest of
the agency.
(c) The bonds must be signed by the presiding officer or
assistant presiding officer of the agency, be attested by the
secretary, and bear the seal of the agency. The signatures may be
printed on the bonds if authorized by the agency, and the seal
may be impressed or printed on the bonds. The agency may adopt or
use for any purpose the signature of an individual who has been
an officer of the agency, regardless of whether the individual
has ceased to be an officer at the time the bonds are delivered
to the purchaser.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.067. NONNEGOTIABLE PURCHASE MONEY NOTES. (a) The
agency may issue nonnegotiable purchase money notes to acquire
land or fuel resources.
(b) Nonnegotiable purchase money notes are:
(1) payable in installments;
(2) secured by the property acquired with the notes or other
collateral the agency substitutes; and
(3) not a security or agency obligation.
(c) Nonnegotiable purchase money notes may be further secured by
a promise to issue bonds or bond anticipation notes to pay the
purchase money notes.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.068. BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES. (a) The agency may
issue bond anticipation notes:
(1) for any purpose for which the agency may issue bonds; or
(2) to refund previously issued bond anticipation notes or
nonnegotiable purchase money notes.
(b) Bond anticipation notes are subject to the limitations and
conditions prescribed by this subchapter for bonds.
(c) The agency may contract with purchasers of bond anticipation
notes that the proceeds of one or more series of bonds will be
used to pay or refund the notes.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
SUBCHAPTER D. AGENCY RECEIVING POWER THROUGH INTERSTATE SYSTEM
Sec. 163.101. CREATION. (a) Notwithstanding Section 163.054,
two or more public entities may create a municipal power agency
governed by Subchapter C if the entities:
(1) are municipalities;
(2) are engaged in the distribution and sale of electric energy
to the public; and
(3) receive a major portion of their power through or from an
interstate electric system.
(b) The entities must comply with the provisions of Subchapter C
relating to the creation of a municipal power agency, including
the concurrent ordinance and election provisions.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.102. POWERS. (a) An agency created under this
subchapter may:
(1) generate and transmit electric power and energy inside and
outside this state;
(2) sell, purchase, or exchange electric power and energy with
entities inside or outside this state; and
(3) construct or acquire new steam electric generating
facilities, but only if the facilities are owned jointly by the
agency and one or more private entities.
(b) This section does not authorize an agency created under this
subchapter to engage in the distribution and retail sale of
electric power and energy.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
SUBCHAPTER E. ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CORPORATIONS
Sec. 163.121. CREATION. An electric cooperative corporation may
join one or more public entities to create a joint powers agency
as if the corporation were also a public entity.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.122. APPLICATION OF OPEN MEETINGS LAW. A joint powers
agency created under this subchapter is a governmental body
subject to Chapter 551, Government Code.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.123. AUTHORITY OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION. A joint
powers agency created under this subchapter is:
(1) subject to all applicable provisions of Title 2; and
(2) under the jurisdiction of the Public Utility Commission of
Texas as provided by Title 2.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 163.124. POWER TO ISSUE CERTAIN BONDS OR SECURITIES. This
subchapter does not authorize an electric cooperative corporation
to issue bonds or other securities that are tax exempt under
federal law.
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 166, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.