HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution No. 533-21 03-08-2021 RESOLUTION NO. 533-21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS TO THE
TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO
PROHIBIT ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS FROM SELECTIVELY
DISRUPTING OR DISCONTINUING POWER SUPPLY TO OTHER
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ASSISTED LIVING, SKILLED
NURSING AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES; REGIONAL WATER
DISTRICTS; WATER TREATMENT PLANTS; SEWER TREATMENT
PLANTS; PUMP STATIONS; SEWER LIFT STATIONS; AND OTHER
PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,the City of Richland Hills is a home rule city acting under its charter adopted by
the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5, of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local
Government Code; and
WHEREAS, the City of Richland Hills recognizes the importance of weatherizing,
overseeing, and otherwise protecting the infrastructure that generates and delivers power to homes
and businesses in Texas,and which may,from time to time,require the implementation of rotating
blackouts across the region and/or the State when there is an inadequate supply to meet demand;
and
WHEREAS,the City also recognizes the importance of maintaining the public health and
safety of the community it serves, including ensuring the uninterrupted provision of electrical
power to health care services for our elderly and medically-compromised citizens and the provision
of safe drinking water and adequate sanitary sewer services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to request the passage of legislation prioritizing assisted
living, skilled nursing, and long-term care facilities as critical parts of the State's healthcare
system,and thereby prohibiting Electric Reliability Council of Texas( "ERCOT"),Oncor Electric
Delivery Company, LLC ( "Oncor"), or any other service provider from interrupting or
discontinuing electric service to assisted living, skilled nursing, and long-term care facilities, as a
means of reducing load on its system; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that providing a clean and safe water source is a
fundamental human need and wishes to request the passage of legislation prioritizing water and
sanitary sewer services as part of the State's critical infrastructure system, and thereby prohibiting
ERCOT, Oncor, or any other service provider from interrupting or discontinuing electric service
to critical water and sewer infrastructure, as a means of reducing load on its system; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to express its disappointment that ERCOT, Oncor, or any
other service provider would permit—whether knowingly or through insufficient emergency
planning—the interruption and discontinuation of electric service to critical water and sewer
infrastructure during a global pandemic,particularly when proper hygiene has proven to be one of
the most effective methods of preventing the spread of a deadly virus; and
WHEREAS, the City is acutely aware that many of the water suppliers that serve the
Dallas-Fort Worth area were forced to issue boil water notices as a result of an interruption in
electric service; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that almost all methods of communicating the need to
boil water prior to using it for hygiene or consumption require access to electricity,and that boiling
water also requires access to electricity; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to request the passage of legislation mandating systematic
reforms to safeguard the State's power grid, including weatherization of power generating units
and facilities and the maintenance of adequate energy reserves to offset shortfalls and prevent the
need for dangerous rotating or rolling blackouts in the future.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHLAND HILLS,TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That the Texas Legislature immediately pass legislation that prohibits ERCOT, Oncor, or
any other electric service provider from disrupting or discontinuing electric service to critical
assisted living, skilled nursing, and long-term care facilities and to water and sewer infrastructure.
SECTION 2.
That the City Manager is herebyauthorized and directed to make this Resolution available
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to all members of the Senate and House of Representatives on behalf of the City of Richland Hills,
Texas.
SECTION 3.
The resolution shall take effect immediately from and after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 8th DAY OF MARCH, 2021.
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ATTEST:
Cathy Bourg, ity Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Betsy Elam, CI Atto ey