(a) Definitions.
  (1) Advisory committee -- the advisory committee convened under the authority described in the Public Utility Regulatory Act (PURA) §34.0203.
  (2) Texas backup power package -- a stand-alone, behind-the-meter, multiday backup power source that can be used for islanding.
(b) Purpose and duties. The advisory committee is established to recommend criteria for the commission to employ in making a grant or loan under PURA chapter 34, subchapter B. The advisory committee must:
  (1) No later than October 1, 2024, submit, in writing, recommendations for the types of Texas backup power package projects that should be funded by loans and the types of Texas backup power package projects that should be funded by grants.
  (2) No later than October 1, 2024, submit, in writing, a report to the commission with recommendations for procedures for the application for and awarding of a grant or loan in accordance with PURA chapter 34, subchapter B.
  (3) Make any other recommendation to the commission regarding matters associated with PURA chapter 34, subchapter B that the advisory committee finds appropriate.
  (4) Record minutes of each advisory committee meeting and provide a copy of those minutes to the commission.
  (5) Publicly file all written recommendations, reports, and minutes produced by the committee on the commission interchange.
(c) Composition and membership. The advisory committee will consist of no fewer than three and no more than nine members. The executive director is authorized to solicit candidates, evaluate their qualifications, and make an appointment to the advisory committee to fill any open position on the advisory committee. The executive director will select members of the advisory committee after reviewing qualifications of potential members. Persons interested in serving on the advisory committee may submit a resume and statement of interest to the executive director at TexasBackupPower@puc.texas.gov.
(d) Membership term. An advisory committee member's term begins when the executive director files notice of the member's appointment on the commission's filing interchange. Each member will serve on the advisory committee until the member resigns or is removed. A member may resign by submitting written notice of resignation to the executive director. The executive director may recommend the removal of a member. The commission may remove an advisory committee member for lack of participation or any other reason. The executive director must notify the removed member and the presiding officer of the committee of the member's removal.
(e) Reimbursement. Members of the advisory committee will not be reimbursed for expenses.
(f) Meetings. The first advisory committee meeting will be called by the executive director. At this first meeting, the advisory committee members must designate a presiding officer to preside over the advisory committee and report to the commission. The presiding officer must call all subsequent meetings of the advisory committee as frequently as necessary to carry out the advisory committee's purpose. A majority of seated members will constitute a quorum necessary for carrying out advisory committee business. The advisory committee may seek and incorporate the input of any person while carrying out its duties.
(g) Duration. The advisory committee will automatically be abolished on the earlier of 180 days after the date the advisory committee delivers the reports described in subsection (b) of this section or four years after the effective date of this rule.

Source Note: The provisions of this §25.515 adopted to be effective November 23, 2023, 48 TexReg 6740