Amendment SA1-SB654

LRBa1950/1

MDK:amn&wlj

2015 - 2016 LEGISLATURE

SENATE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 654

February 9, 2016 - Offered by Senator Roth.

SB654-SA1,1,1 At the locations indicated, amend the bill as follows:

SB654-SA1,1,3 1. Page 2, line 6: before "granting" insert "exempting the construction of certain electric transmission lines from Public Service Commission certification;".

SB654-SA1,1,4 2. Page 20, line 22: after that line insert:

SB654-SA1,1,6 " Section 37c. 196.49 (5g) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 196.49 (5g) (ar) (intro.) and amended to read:

SB654-SA1,1,9 196.49 (5g) (ar) (intro.) A public utility is exempt from the requirement to obtain a certification or approval of the commission under sub. (2) or (3) before beginning a proposed project if the any of the following applies:

SB654-SA1,1,11 1m. The estimated gross cost of the proposed project is not more than one of the following cost thresholds:

SB654-SA1,37g Section 37g. 196.49 (5g) (a) 1. to 5. of the statutes are renumbered 196.49 (5g) (ar) 1m. a. to e.

SB654-SA1,37n Section 37n. 196.49 (5g) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

SB654-SA1,2,5 196.49 (5g) (ag) In this subsection, "rebuild" means the replacement of all or part of an existing electric transmission line and associated facilities to increase the line's capacity to carry current at the same voltage, including conductors, insulators, transformers, or structures.

SB654-SA1,37r Section 37r. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB654-SA1,2,7 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. The project is a rebuild and all of the following apply:

SB654-SA1,2,9 a. The existing electric transmission line and associated facilities are designed for operation at a nominal voltage of less than 345 kilovolts.

SB654-SA1,2,13 b. The centerline of the rebuilt electric transmission line is located within 60 feet on either side of the centerline of an existing electric transmission line operating at a nominal voltage of 69 kilovolts or more. In this subd. 2m. b., "centerline" has the meaning given in s. 196.491 (4) (c) 1e.

SB654-SA1,2,16 c. The project requires the acquisition in total of one-half mile or less of rights-of-way from landowners from which rights-of-way were not required to be acquired for the existing electric transmission line specified in subd. 2m. b.

SB654-SA1,2,18 d. The project will not have undue adverse environmental impacts on any new rights-of-way required for the rebuild.

SB654-SA1,37w Section 37w. 196.49 (5g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB654-SA1,3,2 196.49 (5g) (b) Beginning on May 1, 2014, and on May 1 of each successive even-numbered year thereafter, the commission shall adjust the cost thresholds specified in par. (a) (ar) 1m. to reflect changes to the cost of utility construction based on the applicable industry cost index numbers published in the Handy-Whitman Index of Public Utility Construction Costs, or an equivalent successor index, and publicize the adjusted cost thresholds on the commission's Web site.".

SB654-SA1,3,3 (End)