(b) The commission may provide technical assistance to units of government other than the state to assist in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable resources and may charge for those services. The commission may request technical and staff assistance from other state agencies in providing technical assistance to those units of government.
(c) The commission may require a public utility to provide energy billing and use data regarding public schools, if the commission determines that the data is necessary to provide technical assistance in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable resources in public schools, including those with the highest energy costs.
136,39
Section
39. 196.026 of the statutes is created to read:
196.026 Settlements. (1) All parties to dockets before the commission are encouraged to enter into settlements when possible.
(2) In this section, “docket” means an investigation, proceeding, or other matter opened by a vote of the commission, except for rule making.
(3) Parties to a docket may agree upon some or all of the facts. The agreement shall be evidenced by a written stipulation filed with the commission or entered upon the record. The stipulation shall be regarded and used as evidence in the docket.
(4) Parties to a docket may agree upon a resolution of some or all of the issues. When a written settlement agreement is proposed by some of the parties, those parties shall submit to the commission the settlement agreement and any documents, testimony, or exhibits, including record citations if there is a record, and any other matters those parties consider relevant to the proposed settlement and serve a copy of the settlement agreement upon all parties to the docket.
(5) If a proposed settlement agreement is not supported by all parties, the settling parties shall convene at least one conference with notice and opportunity to participate provided to all parties for the purpose of discussing the proposed settlement agreement. A nonsettling party may waive its right to the conference provided in this subsection.
(6) Within 30 days of service of a settlement agreement under sub. (4), each party to the docket shall respond in writing by filing and serving on all parties the party's agreement, objection, or nonobjection to the settlement agreement. Failure to respond in writing within 30 days of service, unless a different time is set by the commission for good cause, shall constitute nonobjection to the settlement agreement. A party objecting to a settlement agreement shall state all objections with particularity and shall specify how the party would be adversely affected by each provision of the settlement agreement to which the party objects.
(7) The commission may approve a settlement agreement under sub. (4) if all of following conditions are met:
(a) All of the following have been given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence and arguments in opposition to the settlement agreement:
1. Each party that has filed an objection or nonobjection to the settlement agreement under sub. (6).
2. Each party whose failure to respond in writing constitutes a nonobjection to the settlement agreement under sub. (6).
(b) The commission finds that the public interest is adequately represented by the parties who entered into the settlement agreement.
(c) The commission finds that the settlement agreement represents a fair and reasonable resolution to the docket, is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole, and complies with applicable law, including that any rates resulting from the settlement agreement are just and reasonable.
(8) The commission may approve a settlement agreement under sub. (4) in whole or in part and with conditions deemed necessary by the commission. If the settlement agreement does not resolve all of the issues in the docket, the commission shall decide the remaining issues in accordance with applicable law and procedure.
136,41
Section
41. 196.192 (2) (bm) of the statutes, as affected by
2017 Wisconsin Act 58, is renumbered 196.192 (2) (bm) (intro.) and amended to read:
196.192 (2) (bm) (intro.) The
Except as provided in par. (br), the commission shall approve market-based rates that are consistent with the options specified in par. (am), except that the for each investor-owned electric public utility that satisfy all of the following:
(br) The commission may not approve a market-based rate under par. (bm) unless the commission determines that the rate will not harm shareholders of the investor-owned electric public utility or customers who are not subject to the rate.
136,42
Section
42. 196.192 (2) (bm) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
196.192 (2) (bm) 1. The rates result in customers receiving market-based compensation for voluntary interruptions of firm load during peak periods of electric use.
2. The rates include market-based pricing options and options for individual contracts that allow a retail customer, through service from its existing public utility, to receive market benefits and take market risks for the customer's purchases of capacity or energy.
196.192 (2) (c) Subject to any approval of the commission that is necessary, an electric public utility that is not an investor-owned electric public utility may implement market-based rates approved under par. (bm) or implement the options in filings under par. (am) that are approved by the commission.
196.192 (3m) Nothing in s. 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60 or 196.604 prohibits the commission from approving a filing under sub. (2) (am) or (2m) (a) or approving market-based rates under sub. (2) (bm) or (2m) (b).
136,45
Section
45. 196.193 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
196.193 (3) Determination of an overall rate of return. Not later than March 1 annually, the commission shall set the overall rate of return to be applicable to municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water and sewer public utilities for rate increases under this section. The overall rate of return shall be equal to the simple average, rounded to the nearest tenth of 1 percent, of commission shall consider the interest rates listed for state and local bonds in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) published by the federal reserve board, for the last quarter of the prior year, plus 2 percent setting the overall rate of return. The overall rate of return need not be defined by rule.
196.218 (3) (a) 2e. a. The commission shall estimate the amount of unencumbered balances under s. 20.155 (1) (q) and (3) (rm) for that fiscal year that will transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).
b. The department of public instruction shall provide the commission with the department's estimate of the total amount of unencumbered balances under s. 20.255 (1) (q) and (3) (q), (qm), and (r) for that fiscal year that will transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).
c. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall provide the commission with the board's estimate of the amount of unencumbered balance under s. 20.285 (1) (q) for that fiscal year that will transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).
196.218 (3) (a) 2m. No later than 30 days after the close of a fiscal biennium, the department of administration shall provide the commission with the department's estimate of the amount of unencumbered balance under s. 20.505 (4) (s) for that fiscal biennium that will transfer to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r).
136,45p
Section 45p. 196.218 (3) (a) 2s. of the statutes, as created by
2017 Wisconsin Act 59, is renumbered 196.218 (3) (a) 2s. (intro.) and amended to read:
196.218 (3) (a) 2s. (intro.) Thirty days after the close of a fiscal year or as soon as practicable thereafter, the commission shall determine the sum of the estimates specified in subd. 2e. a., b., and c. If the close of a fiscal year is also the close of a fiscal biennium, the sum shall include the estimate specified in subd. 2m. In the subsequent fiscal year, the commission shall transfer
all of the following apply:
b. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (rm) an amount equal to $2,000,000 less the sum determined under this subdivision subd. 2s. (intro.).
136,45t
Section 45t. 196.218 (3) (a) 2s. a. of the statutes is created to read:
196.218 (3) (a) 2s. a. There is transferred from the universal service fund to the appropriation account under s. 20.155 (3) (r) an amount equal to the sum determined under subd. 2s. (intro.).
136,46
Section
46. 196.49 (5g) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
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, for operation at the same voltage.
136,47
Section
47. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. b. The
Not more than one-half mile of the centerline of the rebuilt electric transmission line is located within more than 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.
136,48
Section
48. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. 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
would not be required to be acquired for the existing electric transmission line specified in subd. 2m. b.
136,49
Section
49. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
196.491 (4) (c) 1m. (intro.) Except as provided in subd. 1s., a certificate under sub. (3) is not required for a person to construct a high-voltage transmission line designed for operation at a nominal voltage of less than 345 kilovolts if not more than one-half mile of the centerline of the new high-voltage transmission line is located within more than 60 feet on either side of the centerline of an existing electric transmission line operating at a nominal voltage of 69 kilovolts or more and the applicant demonstrates all of the following apply:
136,50
Section
50. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. That the
The project will not have undue adverse environmental impacts.
136,51
Section
51. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
196.491 (4) (c) 1m. b. That the
The new high-voltage transmission line requires the acquisition in total of one-half mile or less of rights-of-way from landowners from which rights-of-way were would not be required to be acquired for the existing electric transmission line.
136,52
Section
52. 196.595 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
196.595 (1) (c) “Public utility" in this section means any public utility, as defined in s. 196.01, engaged in the transmission, delivery, or furnishing of natural gas by means of pipes or mains, heat, light, water, or power. “Public utility" does not include any cooperative association organized under ch. 185.
136,52d
Section 52d. 196.595 (2) (b) (intro.), 1. and 2. of the statutes are amended to read:
196.595 (2) (b) (intro.) Produces a demonstrated, direct and substantial benefit for ratepayers. Advertising which produces a direct and substantial benefit for ratepayers is limited to advertising which does any of the following:
1. Demonstrates energy or water conservation methods;.
2. Conveys safety information on the use of energy;
.
136,52h
Section 52h. 196.595 (2) (b) 2g. and 2r. of the statutes are created to read:
196.595 (2) (b) 2g. Conveys health or safety information related to a water system or the use of water, including information on preventing frozen water laterals.
2r. Identifies the public utility on public utility property or the location of public utility property.
136,52p
Section 52p. 196.595 (2) (b) 3., 4. and 5. of the statutes are amended to read:
196.595 (2) (b) 3. Demonstrates methods of reducing ratepayer costs;.
4. Otherwise directly and substantially benefits ratepayers; or.
5. Is required by law, administrative rule, or permit.
136,52t
Section 52t. 196.595 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
196.595 (2m) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a public utility may charge its ratepayers for expenditures for reasonable direct communication to ratepayers that will be directly and substantially impacted by ongoing or future water public utility operations or construction.
136,53
Section
53. 201.10 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
136,54
Section
54. 201.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
201.10 (2) The fee provisions of sub. (1) shall not apply, but the provisions of sub. (3) shall apply, to the issuance, renewal or assumption by a public service corporation which is a public utility as defined in the federal power act, of evidences of indebtedness maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, renewal or assumption thereof.
136,55
Section
55. 348.17 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
348.17 (3) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the department of administration
public service commission, the department may waive the divisible load limitation of s. 348.25 (4) and authorize for a period not to exceed 30 days the operation of overweight vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more and carrying energy resources or fuel or milk commodities designated by the governor or a designee, regardless of the highways involved, to conserve energy. Such authorization may only allow weights not more than 10 percent greater than the gross axle and axle combination weight limitations, and not more than 15 percent greater than the gross vehicle weight limitations under ss. 348.15 and 348.16. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the department to waive the requirements of ss. 348.05 to 348.07. This subsection does not apply to vehicles on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor.
136,56
Section
56. 348.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
348.17 (4) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the department of administration
public service commission, the department may authorize motor vehicles that have a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or less and that are transporting propane or heating oil for delivery to residences, businesses, or other end users to exceed any special weight limitation imposed under ss. 348.17 (1) and 349.16 (1) (a) and (2) in connection with the thawing of frozen highways. Any person operating a motor vehicle as authorized under this subsection shall, to the extent practicable, deliver propane or heating oil at times of the day when the highways used are the least vulnerable.
136,57
Section
57.
Initial applicability.
(1) Settlements. The treatment of section 196.026 of the statutes first applies to dockets, as defined in section 196.026 (2) of the statutes, that are first opened on the effective date of this subsection.
136,57m
Section 57m.
Effective dates. This act takes effect on the day after publication, except as follows:
(1) The repeal and recreation of section 20.505 (4) (s) of the statutes takes effect on July 1, 2019.
