Contact Information
- Critical Infrastructure Phone: 512-463-6737
- General Email: CID@rrc.texas.gov
Critical Infrastructure ANNOUNCEMENTS
Notice to Operators - Required Reporting Pursuant to Rule 3.66 In Effect
September 06, 2023
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued an Energy Emergency Alert. Weather conditions currently meet the definition of a Weather Emergency as defined in Commission rule 16 Tex. Admin. Code § 3.66 (“Rule 3.66”).
Operators under the Commission’s jurisdiction that are subject to the weatherization requirements of Rule 3.66 are hereby on notice that reporting is required during the duration of the Energy Emergency Alert. Reporting of the following events is required until ERCOT retracts the Energy Emergency Alert: (1) Weather-Related Forced Stoppages; (2) Major Weather-Related Forced Stoppages; and (3) stoppages caused by loss of electricity. See Rule 3.66(b) for the definitions of a Weather-Related Forced Stoppage and a Major Weather-Related Forced Stoppage. Reporting requirements can be found in Rule 3.66(f).
Reporting of the aforementioned events shall be sent to the Critical Infrastructure Division notification portal RRC Online at https://webapps.rrc.texas.gov/security/login.do and if applicable, through the Critical Infrastructure Division’s toll-free emergency phone line at 844-773-0305. Please refer to Rule 3.66 for the appropriate notification method.
Operators subject to Rule 3.66 should remain prepared to maintain operations during the duration of the Energy Emergency Alert.
If you encounter any issues, contact the RRC through the toll-free emergency phone line at 844-773-0305 or email the RRC at cid@rrc.texas.gov.
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Overview
Printable Overview
What we do
RRC’s Critical Infrastructure Division (CID) is committed to serving the people of Texas by ensuring the natural gas industry consistently incorporates weatherization and reliability standards and practices to achieve uninterruptible natural gas production throughout the calendar year including periods of severe weather.
The CID will vigilantly oversee and manage adherence to weatherization rules, adopted by the RRC, including ensuring companies within the natural gas supply chain register their assets as Critical Infrastructure.
On November 30, 2021 The Railroad Commission of Texas commissioners adopted rules for critical designation of natural gas infrastructure to help protect Texans in energy emergencies. The new rules implement provisions in House Bill 3648 and Senate Bill 3 and define natural gas facilities that would be designated as critical gas suppliers and critical customers.
Critical gas suppliers include, but are not limited to, gas wells, oil leases that produce gas, natural gas pipeline facilities, underground natural gas storage facilities and saltwater disposal facilities.
Critical customers, which are a subset of critical gas suppliers, are facilities that require electricity to operate. These operators will submit a critical customer information to their electric utilities so that their electric utilities have the correct information for purposes of supplying power to the facilities.
Senate Bill 3 includes language to allow for certain facilities to apply for an exception to critical designation. However, the newly adopted rules exclude certain types of highly critical facilities from being able to apply for an exception. Examples include any facility that will be on the state’s electricity supply chain map, which is due to be published next year, underground gas storage facilities, pipelines that directly serve a power generation plant or local gas distribution companies, gas wells and oil leases that produce a large amount of gas per day, and gas processing plants. Applications for exception require objective evidence proving reasonable cause and justification, which will be reviewed, and RRC staff can deny an application.
Commissioners
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Christi Craddick
Chairman -
Wayne Christian
Commissioner -
Jim Wright
Commissioner
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