AB735: Bill Text

LRB-3954/1

MDK:kmg:ch

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 735

January 7, 2004 - Introduced by Representative Gard. Referred to Committee on Job Creation.

AB735,1,2 An Act to amend 196.491 (1) (d), 196.491 (2) (a) 3., 196.491 (2) (a) 3m. and 196.491 (2) (g) of the statutes; relating to: strategic energy assessments.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law requires the Public Service Commission to prepare a strategic energy assessment every two years that evaluates the adequacy and reliability of the state's electricity supplies. An assessment must describe, among other things, large electric generating facilities and high-voltage transmission lines on which utilities plan to begin construction within three years. This bill requires an assessment to describe large electric generating facilities and high-voltage transmission lines on which utilities plan to begin construction within seven years, rather than three years.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB735, s. 1 Section 1. 196.491 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB735,2,3 196.491 (1) (d) "Electric utility" means any public utility, as defined in s. 196.01, which is involved in the generation, distribution and sale of electric energy, and any corporation, company, individual or association, and any cooperative association, which owns or operates, or plans within the next 3 7 years to construct, own or operate, facilities in the state.

AB735, s. 2 Section 2. 196.491 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB735,2,6 196.491 (2) (a) 3. Identify and describe large electric generating facilities on which an electric utility plans to commence construction within 3 7 years.

AB735, s. 3 Section 3. 196.491 (2) (a) 3m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB735,2,9 196.491 (2) (a) 3m. Identify and describe high-voltage transmission lines on which an electric utility plans to commence construction within 3 7 years.

AB735, s. 4 Section 4. 196.491 (2) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB735,3,2 196.491 (2) (g) No sooner than 30 and no later than 90 days after copies of the draft are issued under par. (b), the commission shall hold a hearing on the draft which may not be a hearing under s. 227.42 or 227.44. The hearing shall be held in an administrative district, established by executive order 22, issued August 24, 1970, which the commission determines will be significantly affected by facilities on which an electric utility plans to commence construction within 3 7 years. The commission may thereafter adjourn the hearing to other locations or may conduct the hearing by interactive video conference or other electronic method. Notice of such hearing shall be given by class 1 notice, under ch. 985, published in the official state newspaper and such other regional papers of general circulation as may be designated by the commission. At such hearing the commission shall briefly describe the strategic energy assessment and give all interested persons an opportunity, subject to reasonable limitations on the presentation of repetitious material, to express their views on any aspect of the strategic energy assessment. A record of the hearing shall be made and considered by the commission as comments on the strategic energy assessment under par. (e).

AB735,3,3 (End)