Sec. 51.927. ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS.

(a) In this section, "energy savings performance contract" has the meaning assigned by Section 302.001, Local Government Code.

(b) The governing board of an institution of higher education may enter into an energy savings performance contract in accordance with this section.

(c) Each energy or water conservation measure must comply with current local, state, and federal construction, plumbing, and environmental codes and regulations. Notwithstanding Subsection (a), an energy savings performance contract may not include improvements or equipment that allow or cause water from any condensing, cooling, or industrial process or any system of nonpotable usage over which the public water supply system officials do not have sanitary control, to be returned to the potable water supply.

(d) The board may enter into energy savings performance contracts only with entities that are experienced in the design, implementation, and installation of the energy or water conservation measures addressed by the contract.

(e) Before entering into an energy savings performance contract, the board shall require the provider of the energy or water conservation measures to file with the board a payment and performance bond in accordance with Chapter 2253, Government Code. The board may also require a separate bond to cover the value of the guaranteed savings on the contract.

(f) The board may enter into an energy savings performance contract for a period of more than one year only if the board finds that the amount the institution would spend on the energy or water conservation measures will not exceed the amount to be saved in energy, water, wastewater, and operating costs over 20 years from the date of installation. If the term of the contract exceeds one year, the institution's contractual obligation in any year during the term of the contract beginning after the final date of installation may not exceed the total energy, water, wastewater, and operating cost savings, including electrical, gas, water, wastewater, or other utility cost savings and operating cost savings resulting from the measures, as determined by the board in this subsection, divided by the number of years in the contract term beginning after the final date of installation. The board shall consider all costs of the energy or water conservation measures, including costs of design, engineering, installation, maintenance, repairs, and debt service.

(g) An energy savings performance contract may be financed:

(1) under a lease/purchase contract that has a term not to exceed 20 years from the final date of installation and that meets federal tax requirements for tax-free municipal leasing or long-term financing, including a lease/purchase contract under the master equipment lease purchase program administered by the Texas Public Finance Authority under Chapter 1232, Government Code;

(2) with the proceeds of bonds; or

(3) under a contract with the provider of the energy or water conservation measures that has a term not to exceed the lesser of 20 years from the final date of installation or the average useful life of the energy or water conservation or usage measures.

(g-1) Notwithstanding other law, the board may use any available money to pay the provider of the energy or water conservation measures under this section, and the board is not required to pay for such costs solely out of the savings realized by the institution of higher education under an energy savings performance contract. The board may contract with the provider to perform work that is related to, connected with, or otherwise ancillary to the measures identified in the scope of an energy savings performance contract.

(h) An energy savings performance contract shall contain provisions requiring the provider of the energy or water conservation measures to guarantee the amount of the savings to be realized by the institution of higher education under the contract.

(i) An energy savings performance contract shall be let according to the procedures established for procuring certain professional services by Section 2254.004, Government Code. Notice of the request for qualifications shall be given in the manner provided by Section 2156.002, Government Code. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in consultation with the State Energy Conservation Office with regard to energy and water conservation measures, shall establish guidelines and an approval process for awarding energy savings performance contracts. The guidelines must require that the cost savings projected by an offeror be reviewed by a licensed professional engineer who has a minimum of three years of experience in energy calculation and review, is not an officer or employee of an offeror for the contract under review, and is not otherwise associated with the contract. In conducting the review, the engineer shall focus primarily on the proposed improvements from an engineering perspective, the methodology and calculations related to cost savings, increases in revenue, and, if applicable, efficiency or accuracy of metering equipment. An engineer who reviews a contract shall maintain the confidentiality of any proprietary information the engineer acquires while reviewing the contract. A contract is not required to be reviewed or approved by the State Energy Conservation Office. Sections 1001.053 and 1001.407, Occupations Code, apply to work performed under the contract.

(j) The legislature shall base an institution's appropriation for energy, water, and wastewater costs during a fiscal year on the sum of:

(1) the institution's estimated energy, water, and wastewater costs for that fiscal year; and

(2) if an energy savings performance contract is in effect, the institution's estimated net savings resulting from the contract during the contract term, divided by the number of years in the contract term.

(k) Chapter 2269, Government Code, does not apply to this section.

(l) The guidelines established under Subsection (i) must require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to:

(1) review any reports submitted to the board that measure and verify cost savings to an institution of higher education under an energy savings performance contract; and

(2) based on the reports, provide an analysis, on a periodic basis, of the cost savings under the energy savings performance contract to the governing board of the institution of higher education and the Legislative Budget Board until the governing board of the institution of higher education determines that the analysis is no longer required to accurately measure cost savings.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 8, Sec. 3.07, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(92), eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 773, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 17.19, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1142, Sec. 2, eff. June 19, 1997; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 627, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 4.03, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 361, Sec. 2, eff. Sept; 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1450, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; ; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 573, Sec. 3, 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1319, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1310, Sec. 6, 121(2), eff. June 20, 2003.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 527 (S.B. 831), Sec. 2, eff. June 16, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 982 (H.B. 1728), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1129 (H.B. 628), Sec. 3.02, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 22.002(7), eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 537 (S.B. 533), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.

Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 258 (H.B. 1571), Sec. 2, eff. May 29, 2017.