HIGH VOLTAGE LINES S.B. 408 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
Senate Bill 408 (Substitute S-1 as reported) Sponsor: Senator Mat J. Dunaskiss Committee: Technology and Energy
The bill would create the “Electric Transmission Line Certification Act” to establish a process under which electric utilities with at least 50,000 residential customers would have to submit a construction plan to, and obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from, the Public Service Commission (PSC) before constructing a major transmission line. (“Major transmission line” would mean “a transmission line of 5 miles or more in length wholly or partially owned by an electric utility through which electricity is transferred at a system bulk supply voltage of 345 kilovolts or more”. “Electric utility” would not include a municipal utility.) The bill would do the following:
-- Require a utility to hold a public meeting in each municipality through which a proposed line would pass, and give notice to each affected landowner.
-- Permit a utility to apply for a certificate for a proposed transmission line other than a major transmission line.
-- Provide that a certificate granted under the bill would take precedence over a conflicting local ordinance.
-- Provide that a circuit court could grant a utility a limited license for entry on land to conduct preconstruction activity.
-- Require costs for a transmission line for which a certificate was issued to be included in the utility’s rates.
-- Provide that information obtained by the PSC under the bill would be a public record, but permit a utility to designate certain information as confidential.
Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
Any added cost that would be incurred by the Public Service Commission would be handled from existing resources.
Date Completed: 3-24-95 Fiscal Analyst: K. Lindquist
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.