Power plants built for one huge customer could not be billed to everyone else
What it does
HB 730 would set new rules for electric utilities that operate outside the ERCOT power region. A large load customer is a retail customer whose load at one site exceeds, or is projected to exceed, 75 megawatts, and a dedicated facility is one built mainly to serve that customer. The Public Utility Commission could not let a utility add the cost of a dedicated facility to what other customers pay unless it finds the facility gives other customers a net benefit and allocates costs so residential and small commercial rates stay no higher than if the facility were never built. The commission would also set interconnection standards for large loads, including a study fee of at least $100,000 and financial commitments such as security per megawatt, with money returned as the customer ramps up or pulls back.
What it means for your community
If your utility is outside ERCOT, a new large customer could not quietly raise what your household pays on the bill. Utilities would have to post rules for big new loads by June 1, 2028, and customers would have to show they control the site and put up money before the power gets built. Large customers would have to tell the utility if they are chasing a similar project in another state, and competitively sensitive answers would stay confidential. The bill would take effect September 1, 2027.
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