The corporation has several powers, but it must stay within this subchapter and needs commission approval for some actions.
Sec. 36.454. POWERS AND DUTIES OF CORPORATION. (a) The corporation, in each instance subject to the prior authorization of the commission, shall participate in the financial transactions authorized by this subchapter. The corporation may not engage in business activities except those activities provided for in this subchapter and those ancillary and incidental thereto. The corporation or an issuer may not apply proceeds of system restoration bonds or system restoration charges to a purpose not specified in a financing order, to a purpose in an amount that exceeds the amount allowed for such purpose in the order, or to a purpose in contravention of the order. (b) The board of the corporation, under the provisions of this subchapter, may employ or retain persons as are necessary to perform the duties of the corporation. (c) The corporation may: (1) acquire, sell, pledge, or transfer transition property as necessary to effect the purposes of this subchapter and, in connection with the action, agree to such terms and conditions as the corporation deems necessary and proper, consistent with the terms of a financing order: (A) to acquire transition property and to pledge such transition property, and any other collateral: (i) to secure payment of system restoration bonds issued by the corporation, together with payment of any other qualified costs; or (ii) to secure repayment of any borrowing from any other issuer of system restoration bonds; or (B) to sell the transition property to another issuer, which may in turn pledge that transition property, together with any other collateral, to the repayment of system restoration bonds issued by the issuer together with any other qualified costs; (2) issue system restoration bonds on terms and conditions consistent with a financing order; (3) borrow funds from an issuer of system restoration bonds to acquire transition property, and pledge that transition property to the repayment of any borrowing from an issuer, together with any related qualified costs, all on terms and conditions consistent with a financing order; (4) sue or be sued in its corporate name; (5) intervene as a party before the commission or any court in this state in any matter involving the corporation's powers and duties; (6) negotiate and become a party to contracts as necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry out the purposes of this subchapter; and (7) engage in corporate actions or undertakings that are permitted for nonprofit corporations in this state and that are not prohibited by, or contrary to, this subchapter. (d) The corporation shall maintain separate accounts and records relating to each electric utility that collects system restoration charges for all charges, revenues, assets, liabilities, and expenses relating to that utility's related system restoration bond issuances. (e) The board of the corporation may not authorize any rehabilitation, liquidation, or dissolution of the corporation and a rehabilitation, liquidation, or dissolution of the corporation may not take effect as long as any system restoration bonds are outstanding unless adequate protection and provision have been made for the payment of the bonds pursuant to the documents authorizing the issuance of the bonds. In the event of any rehabilitation, liquidation, or dissolution, the assets of the corporation must be applied first to pay all debts, liabilities, and obligations of the corporation, including the establishment of reasonable reserves for any contingent liabilities or obligations, and all remaining funds of the corporation must be applied and distributed as provided by an order of the commission. (f) Before the date that is two years and one day after the date that the corporation no longer has any payment obligation with respect to any system restoration bonds, including any obligation to an issuer of any system restoration bonds outstanding, the corporation may not file a voluntary petition under federal bankruptcy law and neither any public official nor any organization, entity, or other person may authorize the corporation to be or to become a debtor under federal bankruptcy law during that period. The state covenants that it will not limit or alter the denial of authority under this subsection or Subsection (e), and the provisions of this subsection and Subsection (e) are hereby made a part of the contractual obligation that is subject to the state pledge set forth in Section 39.310. (g) The corporation shall prepare and submit to the commission for approval an annual operating budget. If requested by the commission, the corporation shall prepare and submit an annual report containing the annual operating and financial statements of the corporation and any other appropriate information. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 198 (H.B. 1510), Sec. 2, eff. June 1, 2021.