Texas Utilities Code - UTIL § 38.006. Structural Integrity Standards for Transmission and Distribution Poles

(a) This section applies only to an electric utility, municipally owned utility, or electric cooperative that operates transmission or distribution assets.

(b) The commission by rule shall adopt standards for the structural integrity of transmission and distribution poles.

(c) The standards adopted under this section must:

(d) The governing body of a municipally owned utility or an electric cooperative shall adopt for the utility or cooperative, as applicable, the standards adopted by the commission under Subsection (b).  If the commission revises the standards adopted under Subsection (b), the governing body of each municipally owned utility and electric cooperative shall adopt the revised standards not later than the 120th day after the effective date of the commission's revised standards.

(e) Not later than May 1 of each year, each electric utility, municipally owned utility, and electric cooperative shall submit to the commission a report on:

(f) A municipally owned utility or electric cooperative shall include with the first report required under Subsection (e) after the utility or cooperative adopts initial or revised standards under Subsection (d) an attestation from the utility's or cooperative's highest-ranking representative, official, or officer with binding authority over the utility or cooperative stating that the utility or cooperative has adopted standards in compliance with this section.

(g) The commission may impose an administrative penalty under Section 15.023 against a municipally owned utility or electric cooperative for a violation of this section or a rule adopted under this section.