(a) An authority created pursuant to this subchapter shall be authorized to and shall join or contract for the control of its electric transmission facilities with an independent transmission system operator, independent transmission company, regional transmission organization, or other independent transmission entity approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for this state or a larger region of which this state is a part as, if, and when other similarly situated electric transmission systems are so required to join or contract.
(b) However, any authority established under this subchapter shall be authorized to and shall join the appropriate reliability council responsible for operations in its geographic area as appropriate.