A bill co-authored by five members of the Texas House of Representatives, including three from west Texas, was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott to require the Railroad Commission of Texas to determine if utility poles meet the national electrical code as it conducts oil and gas field inspections. HB 143 was written by representatives Ken King of Canadian, Drew Darby of San Angelo, Caroline Fairly of Amarillo and two others. Gov. Abbott signed it into law June 20 after the recent session of the legislature.
The devastating wildfires in February 2024 in the Texas panhandle likely were sparked by a brittle oilfield utility pole that snapped and fell onto dry grass, according to reports. RCC and Public Utility Commission said they lacked regulatory authority to inspect the poles or hold operators accountable for faulty equipment.
Leave a Reply