RRC Open Meeting

RRC has scheduled an open meeting for Tuesday, March 19, beginning at 9:30 a.m. View the webcast here https://www.adminmonitor.com/tx/rcc/

Critical Infrastructure

Regulating the weatherization of natural gas facilities.

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Critical Infrastructure ANNOUNCEMENTS

RRC Hosts Webinar on Form CI-D/Form CI-X Online Filing System Updates for Operators on February 7


January 29, 2024

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has launched updates to the RRC Online System used to file the Form CI-D, Acknowledgement of Critical Customer/Critical Gas Supplier Designation, and Form CI-X, Critical Designation Exception Application.

To help operators understand the recent updates, the RRC will host a webinar Form CI-D/ Form CI-X Online Filing System Updates from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

These updates to the online filing system provide a more efficient process and improved user experience when submitting the required forms.

  • Operators have the option to save their work and return to the application later using the “Select” tab.
  • Additional facility types have been added to the drop-down menu in the “Select” tab as well as to the list on the “Acknowledgement” tab for facility types that can request an exception.
  • The RRC review process for Form CI-X has been revised. All applications will be reviewed by an initial and then final reviewer. Under no circumstances will exception applications be approved without attachments demonstrating justification and evidence.

Please be reminded that oil and gas operators and pipeline operators must file the Form CI-D or Form CI-X online by March 1, 2024, using the RRC Online System at https://webapps.rrc.texas.gov/security/login.do. Hard copy forms or email form submissions are not accepted.

Form CI-D would be submitted by an operator of a facility designated as critical acknowledging the facility’s critical status based on 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.65 and 16 TAC §25.52.

Form CI-X would be submitted by an operator certifying a facility seeks an exception to critical designation based on 16 TAC §3.65 and Texas Natural Resource Code §91.143. 

The webinar is free, but registration is required. Registrants are required to register using their work email address. To register, visit the Zoom website at https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_OyyA_k4lRVK8jgPOFMMYMg.

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Critical Infrastructure Overview

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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.



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