SB475: Bill Text

SB475,28 Section 28. 182.0175 (3) (bg), (br) and (c) of the statutes are created to read:

SB475,14,8 182.0175 (3) (bg) Complaints. 1. Except as provided in subd. 4., any of the following may file a written complaint with the panel that a person other than a state agency has violated or aided in the violation of this section:

SB475,14,9 a. The one-call system.

SB475,14,12 b. The department of transportation or a political subdivision, if property under the jurisdiction of the department or political subdivision is affected by an alleged violation of this section.

SB475,14,14 c. A transmission facility owner, excavator, or underground line locator whose property or activities are affected by an alleged violation of this section.

SB475,14,19 2. Except as provide in subd. 4., a person specified in subd. 1. a. to c. may file a written complaint with the commission that a state agency has violated or aided in the violation of this section. If the complaint also involves a respondent that is not a state agency, the commission may consider and determine the complaint against each respondent separately and at such times as the commission prescribes.

SB475,14,20 3. A written complaint under subd. 1. or 2. shall include all of the following

SB475,14,24 a. A short plain statement of the complaint that identifies the transaction or occurrence or series of transactions or occurrences for which the complaint arises and that shows that the person or state agency has violated or aided in the violation of this section.

SB475,15,2 b. A statement of the provisions of statutes, rules, or commission orders that the person or state agency is alleged to have violated or aided in violation.

SB475,15,3 c. Copies of all records and papers on which the complaint is founded.

SB475,15,7 4. No person may file a complaint under subd. 1. or 2. more than 120 days after the person discovers an alleged violation of this section, except that the panel or commission may for good cause shown allow filing no later than one year after the discovery of the alleged violation.

SB475,15,9 5. No complaint filed under subd. 1. or 2. may be dismissed solely because of the absence of direct damage to the complainant.

SB475,15,19 (br) Panel duties. 1. Upon receipt of a complaint filed under par. (bg) 1., the panel shall provide the respondent, by certified mail, a statement of the complaint and a notice requiring the respondent to file a response with the panel within 20 days after the date of service of the notice. The notice shall also advise the respondent of the amount of the fee required for completion of the educational course under subd. 4. Upon request of the respondent, the panel may extend the period for filing the response. The panel may consolidate complaints where appropriate. In the response, the respondent shall admit or deny the violation or aiding in a violation that is alleged in the complaint or advise the panel that, based on the respondent's satisfaction of the complaint, the complainant has agreed to dismiss the complaint.

SB475,16,2 2. Within the period specified in subd. 3., the panel shall determine by majority vote whether there is probable cause to believe that the respondent has violated or aided in the violation of this section or whether to dismiss the complaint. The panel shall dismiss a complaint for lack of probable cause or at the request of the complainant. Except as provided in subd. 4., if the panel determines there is probable cause to believe that a respondent violated or aided in the violation of this section, the panel shall refer the complaint to the commission and include the complaint and the response of the respondent.

SB475,16,4 3. The panel shall make a determination regarding probable cause under subd. 2. within one of the following periods:

SB475,16,6 a. If a respondent files a response within the period specified or extended under subd. 1., within 20 days after the respondent files the response.

SB475,16,9 b. If a respondent fails to file a response within the period specified in subd. 1. and the panel has not extended the period under subd. 1., within 40 days after the panel's service of the notice under subd. 1.

SB475,16,12 c. If the panel has extended the period under subd. 1. and the respondent fails to file a response within the extended period, within 20 days after expiration of the extended period.

SB475,16,20 4. If the panel determines there is probable cause to believe that a respondent violated or aided in the violation of this section, the panel may allow the respondent to attend an educational course in lieu of providing notice of probable violation to the commission under subd. 2. The one-call system shall require a respondent who agrees to attend the educational course to pay a fee before completion of the course for recovering a portion of the cost of producing the educational course and the direct cost of administering the educational course for the respondent. The one-call system shall deposit any fees collected in the damage prevention fund.

SB475,17,5 (c) Commission duties. 1. Upon the filing of a complaint under par. (bg) 2. or receipt of a referral under par. (br) 2., the commission may, with or without notice, investigate the complaint as it considers necessary to determine if sufficient cause exists to warrant a hearing on the complaint. If the commission determines that sufficient cause exists to warrant a hearing on the complaint, the commission shall set the matter for a public hearing upon 10 days' notice and treat the complaint as a contested case. If the commission determines that sufficient cause does not exist to warrant a hearing on the complaint, and within 30 days of that determination the complainant or respondent disputes that determination, the commission shall treat the complaint as a contested case.

SB475,17,9 2. At any time before the commission issues an order under subd. 4., the commission and the respondent may agree to dismiss the complaint by joint execution of a consent agreement. A consent agreement shall become effective when the commission issues an order approving the consent agreement.

SB475,17,13 3. A consent agreement under subd. 2. may assess against the respondent a forfeiture under par. (d) 1., require the respondent to attend the educational course under par. (br) 4., or do both. Each consent agreement under subd. 2. shall include all of the following:

SB475,17,14 a. An admission by the respondent of all jurisdictional facts.

SB475,17,17 b. An express waiver of any further procedural steps and of the right to seek judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of the commission's order approving the consent agreement.

SB475,17,19 c. A statement of the actions required of the respondent and the time by which the actions shall be completed.

SB475,18,2 4. If a complaint is treated as a contested case under subd. 1. and not dismissed under a consent agreement under subd. 2., the commission shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe the respondent has violated or aided in the violation of this section. If the commission determines that probable cause exists to believe the respondent has violated or aided in the violation of this section, the commission may issue an order that assesses a forfeiture under par. (d) 1., requires the respondent to attend the educational course under par. (br) 4., or does both. The commission may not issue an order under this subdivision without a hearing.

SB475,18,7 5. If a consent agreement under subd. 2. or order under subd. 4. requires a respondent to attend the educational course under par. (br) 4., the consent agreement or order shall also require the respondent to pay the one-call system a fee determined by the one-call system for the educational course, which the one-call system shall deposit in the damage prevention fund.

SB475,29 Section 29. 182.0175 (3) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,18,13 182.0175 (3) (d) 2. For each forfeiture assessed under subd. 1., the commission shall require the person assessed to pay a surcharge equal to 10 percent of the amount of the forfeiture to the one-call system, which the one-call system shall deposit in the damage prevention fund. If the amount of a forfeiture is reduced on appeal, the amount of the surcharge shall be proportionately reduced.

SB475,30 Section 30. 182.0175 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,18,18 182.0175 (3) (e) Presumption of validity. Any order or determination of the commission under this section is presumed valid. The burden is upon the person claiming the order or determination to be invalid to plead and prove the facts establishing the invalidity.

SB475,31 Section 31. 182.0175 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,18,22 182.0175 (3) (f) Judicial review. Judicial review of an order of the commission under par. (c) 4. may be had by any person aggrieved in the manner prescribed in ch. 227.

SB475,32 Section 32. 182.0175 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,18,25 182.0175 (3) (g) Rules. The commission may promulgate rules implementing the requirements under pars. (c) to (e).

SB475,33 Section 33. 182.0175 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,19,4 182.0175 (4) Right of action. This Except as provided in sub. (3) (d) 1. and (e), this section shall not affect any right of action or penalty which this state or any person may have.

SB475,34 Section 34. 182.0175 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,19,15 182.0175 (5) Right to injunction. If any person engages in or is likely to engage in excavation inconsistent with this section and which results or is likely to result in damage to transmission facilities, the person who owns or operates the facilities may seek injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which the transmission facilities are located. If the transmission facilities are owned or operated by a public utility as defined in s. 196.01 (5), including a telecommunications carrier, as defined in s. 196.01 (8m), and the public utility does not seek injunctive relief, the attorney general, upon request of the public service commission, shall seek injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which the transmission facilities are located.

SB475,35 Section 35. 196.025 (4) of the statutes is repealed.

SB475,36 Section 36. 196.025 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB475,37 Section 37. 196.025 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,19,20 196.025 (7) State energy office. (a) The commission shall do all of the following:

SB475,19,23 1. In cooperation with the other state agencies, collect, analyze, interpret, and maintain the comprehensive data needed for effective state agency energy planning and effective review of those plans by the governor and the legislature.

SB475,19,25 2. Administer federal energy grants, when so designated by the governor pursuant to s. 16.54.

SB475,20,5 (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.

SB475,20,10 (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.

SB475,38 Section 38. 196.026 of the statutes is created to read:

SB475,20,13 196.026 Settlements. (1) All parties to dockets before the commission are encouraged to enter into settlements when possible.

SB475,20,15 (2) In this section, “docket” means an investigation, proceeding, or other matter opened by a vote of the commission, except for rule making.

SB475,20,18 (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.

SB475,20,24 (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.

SB475,21,5 (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.

SB475,21,13 (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.

SB475,21,15 (7) The commission may approve a settlement agreement under sub. (4) if all of following conditions are met:

SB475,21,17 (a) All of the following have been given a reasonable opportunity to present evidence and arguments in opposition to the settlement agreement:

SB475,21,19 1. Each party that has filed an objection or nonobjection to the settlement agreement under sub. (6).

SB475,21,21 2. Each party whose failure to respond in writing constitutes a nonobjection to the settlement agreement under sub. (6).

SB475,21,23 (b) The commission finds that the public interest is adequately represented by the parties who entered into the settlement agreement.

SB475,22,2 (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.

SB475,22,6 (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.

SB475,39 Section 39. 196.192 (2) (am) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 58, is repealed.

SB475,40 Section 40. 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:

SB475,22,14 196.192 (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:

SB475,22,17 (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.

SB475,41 Section 41. 196.192 (2) (bm) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:

SB475,22,21 196.192 (2) (bm) 1. The rates result in customers receiving market-based compensation for voluntary interruptions of firm load during peak periods of electric use.

SB475,22,25 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.

SB475,42 Section 42. 196.192 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 58, is amended to read:

SB475,23,6 196.192 (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.

SB475,43 Section 43. 196.192 (3m) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 58, is amended to read:

SB475,23,11 196.192 (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).

SB475,44 Section 44. 196.193 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,23,21 196.193 (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.

SB475,45 Section 45. 196.49 (5g) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,24,2 196.49 (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.

SB475,46 Section 46. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,24,8 196.49 (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.

SB475,47 Section 47. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. c. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,24,13 196.49 (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.

SB475,48 Section 48. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,24,21 196.491 (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:

SB475,49 Section 49. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,24,24 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. That the The project will not have undue adverse environmental impacts.

SB475,50 Section 50. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,25,4 196.491 (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.

SB475,51 Section 51. 196.595 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB475,25,9 196.595 (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.

SB475,52 Section 52. 201.10 (1) of the statutes is repealed.