SB475,16,2013 4. If the panel determines there is probable cause to believe that a respondent
14violated or aided in the violation of this section, the panel may allow the respondent
15to attend an educational course in lieu of providing notice of probable violation to the
16commission under subd. 2. The one-call system shall require a respondent who
17agrees to attend the educational course to pay a fee before completion of the course
18for recovering a portion of the cost of producing the educational course and the direct
19cost of administering the educational course for the respondent. The one-call system
20shall deposit any fees collected in the damage prevention fund.
SB475,17,521 (c) Commission duties. 1. Upon the filing of a complaint under par. (bg) 2. or
22receipt of a referral under par. (br) 2., the commission may, with or without notice,
23investigate the complaint as it considers necessary to determine if sufficient cause
24exists to warrant a hearing on the complaint. If the commission determines that
25sufficient cause exists to warrant a hearing on the complaint, the commission shall

1set the matter for a public hearing upon 10 days' notice and treat the complaint as
2a contested case. If the commission determines that sufficient cause does not exist
3to warrant a hearing on the complaint, and within 30 days of that determination the
4complainant or respondent disputes that determination, the commission shall treat
5the complaint as a contested case.
SB475,17,96 2. At any time before the commission issues an order under subd. 4., the
7commission and the respondent may agree to dismiss the complaint by joint
8execution of a consent agreement. A consent agreement shall become effective when
9the commission issues an order approving the consent agreement.
SB475,17,1310 3. A consent agreement under subd. 2. may assess against the respondent a
11forfeiture under par. (d) 1., require the respondent to attend the educational course
12under par. (br) 4., or do both. Each consent agreement under subd. 2. shall include
13all of the following:
SB475,17,1414 a. An admission by the respondent of all jurisdictional facts.
SB475,17,1715 b. An express waiver of any further procedural steps and of the right to seek
16judicial review or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of the commission's
17order approving the consent agreement.
SB475,17,1918 c. A statement of the actions required of the respondent and the time by which
19the actions shall be completed.
SB475,18,220 4. If a complaint is treated as a contested case under subd. 1. and not dismissed
21under a consent agreement under subd. 2., the commission shall determine whether
22probable cause exists to believe the respondent has violated or aided in the violation
23of this section. If the commission determines that probable cause exists to believe
24the respondent has violated or aided in the violation of this section, the commission
25may issue an order that assesses a forfeiture under par. (d) 1., requires the

1respondent to attend the educational course under par. (br) 4., or does both. The
2commission may not issue an order under this subdivision without a hearing.
SB475,18,73 5. If a consent agreement under subd. 2. or order under subd. 4. requires a
4respondent to attend the educational course under par. (br) 4., the consent
5agreement or order shall also require the respondent to pay the one-call system a fee
6determined by the one-call system for the educational course, which the one-call
7system shall deposit in the damage prevention fund.
SB475,29 8Section 29. 182.0175 (3) (d) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,18,139 182.0175 (3) (d) 2. For each forfeiture assessed under subd. 1., the commission
10shall require the person assessed to pay a surcharge equal to 10 percent of the
11amount of the forfeiture to the one-call system, which the one-call system shall
12deposit in the damage prevention fund. If the amount of a forfeiture is reduced on
13appeal, the amount of the surcharge shall be proportionately reduced.
SB475,30 14Section 30. 182.0175 (3) (e) of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,18,1815 182.0175 (3) (e) Presumption of validity. Any order or determination of the
16commission under this section is presumed valid. The burden is upon the person
17claiming the order or determination to be invalid to plead and prove the facts
18establishing the invalidity.
SB475,31 19Section 31. 182.0175 (3) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,18,2220 182.0175 (3) (f) Judicial review. Judicial review of an order of the commission
21under par. (c) 4. may be had by any person aggrieved in the manner prescribed in ch.
22227.
SB475,32 23Section 32. 182.0175 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,18,2524 182.0175 (3) (g) Rules. The commission may promulgate rules implementing
25the requirements under pars. (c) to (e).
SB475,33
1Section 33. 182.0175 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,19,42 182.0175 (4) Right of action. This Except as provided in sub. (3) (d) 1. and (e),
3this
section shall not affect any right of action or penalty which this state or any
4person may have.
SB475,34 5Section 34. 182.0175 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,19,156 182.0175 (5) Right to injunction. If any person engages in or is likely to
7engage in excavation inconsistent with this section and which results or is likely to
8result in damage to transmission facilities, the person who owns or operates the
9facilities may seek injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which the
10transmission facilities are located. If the transmission facilities are owned or
11operated by a public utility as defined in s. 196.01 (5), including a
12telecommunications carrier, as defined in s. 196.01 (8m), and the public utility does
13not seek injunctive relief, the attorney general, upon request of the public service
14commission, shall seek injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which
15the transmission facilities are located.
SB475,35 16Section 35. 196.025 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
SB475,36 17Section 36. 196.025 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
SB475,37 18Section 37. 196.025 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,19,2019 196.025 (7) State energy office. (a) The commission shall do all of the
20following:
SB475,19,2321 1. In cooperation with the other state agencies, collect, analyze, interpret, and
22maintain the comprehensive data needed for effective state agency energy planning
23and effective review of those plans by the governor and the legislature.
SB475,19,2524 2. Administer federal energy grants, when so designated by the governor
25pursuant to s. 16.54.
SB475,20,5
1(b) The commission may provide technical assistance to units of government
2other than the state to assist in the planning and implementation of energy efficiency
3and renewable resources and may charge for those services. The commission may
4request technical and staff assistance from other state agencies in providing
5technical assistance to those units of government.
SB475,20,106 (c) The commission may require a public utility to provide energy billing and
7use data regarding public schools, if the commission determines that the data is
8necessary to provide technical assistance in the planning and implementation of
9energy efficiency and renewable resources in public schools, including those with the
10highest energy costs.
SB475,38 11Section 38. 196.026 of the statutes is created to read:
SB475,20,13 12196.026 Settlements. (1) All parties to dockets before the commission are
13encouraged to enter into settlements when possible.
SB475,20,15 14(2) In this section, “docket” means an investigation, proceeding, or other matter
15opened by a vote of the commission, except for rule making.
SB475,20,18 16(3) Parties to a docket may agree upon some or all of the facts. The agreement
17shall be evidenced by a written stipulation filed with the commission or entered upon
18the record. The stipulation shall be regarded and used as evidence in the docket.
SB475,20,24 19(4) Parties to a docket may agree upon a resolution of some or all of the issues.
20When a written settlement agreement is proposed by some of the parties, those
21parties shall submit to the commission the settlement agreement and any
22documents, testimony, or exhibits, including record citations if there is a record, and
23any other matters those parties consider relevant to the proposed settlement and
24serve a copy of the settlement agreement upon all parties to the docket.
SB475,21,5
1(5) If a proposed settlement agreement is not supported by all parties, the
2settling parties shall convene at least one conference with notice and opportunity to
3participate provided to all parties for the purpose of discussing the proposed
4settlement agreement. A nonsettling party may waive its right to the conference
5provided in this subsection.
SB475,21,13 6(6) Within 30 days of service of a settlement agreement under sub. (4), each
7party to the docket shall respond in writing by filing and serving on all parties the
8party's agreement, objection, or nonobjection to the settlement agreement. Failure
9to respond in writing within 30 days of service, unless a different time is set by the
10commission for good cause, shall constitute nonobjection to the settlement
11agreement. A party objecting to a settlement agreement shall state all objections
12with particularity and shall specify how the party would be adversely affected by
13each provision of the settlement agreement to which the party objects.
SB475,21,15 14(7) The commission may approve a settlement agreement under sub. (4) if all
15of following conditions are met:
SB475,21,1716 (a) All of the following have been given a reasonable opportunity to present
17evidence and arguments in opposition to the settlement agreement:
SB475,21,1918 1. Each party that has filed an objection or nonobjection to the settlement
19agreement under sub. (6).
SB475,21,2120 2. Each party whose failure to respond in writing constitutes a nonobjection to
21the settlement agreement under sub. (6).
SB475,21,2322 (b) The commission finds that the public interest is adequately represented by
23the parties who entered into the settlement agreement.
SB475,22,224 (c) The commission finds that the settlement agreement represents a fair and
25reasonable resolution to the docket, is supported by substantial evidence on the

1record as a whole, and complies with applicable law, including that any rates
2resulting from the settlement agreement are just and reasonable.
SB475,22,6 3(8) The commission may approve a settlement agreement under sub. (4) in
4whole or in part and with conditions deemed necessary by the commission. If the
5settlement agreement does not resolve all of the issues in the docket, the commission
6shall decide the remaining issues in accordance with applicable law and procedure.
SB475,39 7Section 39. 196.192 (2) (am) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act
858
, is repealed.
SB475,40 9Section 40. 196.192 (2) (bm) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act
1058
, is renumbered 196.192 (2) (bm) (intro.) and amended to read:
SB475,22,1411 196.192 (2) (bm) (intro.) The Except as provided in par. (br), the commission
12shall approve market-based rates that are consistent with the options specified in
13par. (am), except that the
for each investor-owned electric public utility that satisfy
14all of the following:
SB475,22,17 15(br) The commission may not approve a market-based rate under par. (bm)
16unless the commission determines that the rate will not harm shareholders of the
17investor-owned electric public utility or customers who are not subject to the rate.
SB475,41 18Section 41. 196.192 (2) (bm) 1. and 2. of the statutes are created to read:
SB475,22,2119 196.192 (2) (bm) 1. The rates result in customers receiving market-based
20compensation for voluntary interruptions of firm load during peak periods of electric
21use.
SB475,22,2522 2. The rates include market-based pricing options and options for individual
23contracts that allow a retail customer, through service from its existing public utility,
24to receive market benefits and take market risks for the customer's purchases of
25capacity or energy.
SB475,42
1Section 42. 196.192 (2) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act
258
, is amended to read:
SB475,23,63 196.192 (2) (c) Subject to any approval of the commission that is necessary, an
4electric public utility that is not an investor-owned electric public utility may
5implement market-based rates approved under par. (bm) or implement the options
6in filings under par. (am) that are approved by the commission
.
SB475,43 7Section 43. 196.192 (3m) of the statutes, as affected by 2017 Wisconsin Act 58,
8is amended to read:
SB475,23,119 196.192 (3m) Nothing in s. 196.20, 196.22, 196.37, 196.60 or 196.604 prohibits
10the commission from approving a filing under sub. (2) (am) or (2m) (a) or approving
11market-based rates under sub. (2) (bm) or (2m) (b).
SB475,44 12Section 44. 196.193 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,23,2113 196.193 (3) Determination of an overall rate of return. Not later than
14March 1 annually, the commission shall set the overall rate of return to be applicable
15to municipally owned water public utilities or municipally owned combined water
16and sewer public utilities for rate increases under this section. The overall rate of
17return shall be equal to the simple average, rounded to the nearest tenth of 1 percent,
18of
commission shall consider the interest rates listed for state and local bonds in the
19Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) published by the federal reserve
20board, for the last quarter of the prior year, plus 2 percent
setting the overall rate of
21return
. The overall rate of return need not be defined by rule.
SB475,45 22Section 45. 196.49 (5g) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,24,223 196.49 (5g) (ag) In this subsection, “rebuild" means the replacement of all or
24part of an existing electric transmission line and associated facilities to increase the

1line's capacity to carry current at the same voltage
, including conductors, insulators,
2transformers, or structures, for operation at the same voltage.
SB475,46 3Section 46. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,24,84 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. b. The Not more than one-half mile of the centerline of the
5rebuilt electric transmission line is located within more than 60 feet on either side
6of the centerline of an existing electric transmission line operating at a nominal
7voltage of 69 kilovolts or more. In this subd. 2m. b., “centerline" has the meaning
8given in s. 196.491 (4) (c) 1e.
SB475,47 9Section 47. 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. c. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,24,1310 196.49 (5g) (ar) 2m. c. The project requires the acquisition in total of one-half
11mile or less of rights-of-way from landowners from which rights-of-way were would
12not be required to be acquired for the existing electric transmission line specified in
13subd. 2m. b.
SB475,48 14Section 48. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,24,2115 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. (intro.) Except as provided in subd. 1s., a certificate under
16sub. (3) is not required for a person to construct a high-voltage transmission line
17designed for operation at a nominal voltage of less than 345 kilovolts if not more than
18one-half mile of
the centerline of the new high-voltage transmission line is located
19within more than 60 feet on either side of the centerline of an existing electric
20transmission line operating at a nominal voltage of 69 kilovolts or more and the
21applicant demonstrates
all of the following apply:
SB475,49 22Section 49. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,24,2423 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. a. That the The project will not have undue adverse
24environmental impacts.
SB475,50 25Section 50. 196.491 (4) (c) 1m. b. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,25,4
1196.491 (4) (c) 1m. b. That the The new high-voltage transmission line requires
2the acquisition in total of one-half mile or less of rights-of-way from landowners
3from which rights-of-way were would not be required to be acquired for the existing
4electric transmission line.
SB475,51 5Section 51. 196.595 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,25,96 196.595 (1) (c) “Public utility" in this section means any public utility, as
7defined in s. 196.01, engaged in the transmission, delivery, or furnishing of natural
8gas by means of pipes or mains, heat, light, water, or power. “Public utility" does not
9include any cooperative association organized under ch. 185.
SB475,52 10Section 52. 201.10 (1) of the statutes is repealed.
SB475,53 11Section 53. 201.10 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,25,1612 201.10 (2) The fee provisions of sub. (1) shall not apply, but the provisions of
13sub. (3) shall apply, to the issuance, renewal or assumption by a public service
14corporation which is a public utility as defined in the federal power act, of evidences
15of indebtedness maturing not more than one year after the date of issue, renewal or
16assumption thereof.
SB475,54 17Section 54. 348.17 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,26,518 348.17 (3) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the
19department of administration public service commission, the department may waive
20the divisible load limitation of s. 348.25 (4) and authorize for a period not to exceed
2130 days the operation of overweight vehicles having a registered gross weight of
2250,000 pounds or more and carrying energy resources or fuel or milk commodities
23designated by the governor or a designee, regardless of the highways involved, to
24conserve energy. Such authorization may only allow weights not more than 10
25percent greater than the gross axle and axle combination weight limitations, and not

1more than 15 percent greater than the gross vehicle weight limitations under ss.
2348.15 and 348.16. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the
3department to waive the requirements of ss. 348.05 to 348.07. This subsection does
4not apply to vehicles on highways designated as parts of the national system of
5interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor.
SB475,55 6Section 55. 348.17 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB475,26,157 348.17 (4) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the
8department of administration public service commission, the department may
9authorize motor vehicles that have a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or less and that
10are transporting propane or heating oil for delivery to residences, businesses, or
11other end users to exceed any special weight limitation imposed under ss. 348.17 (1)
12and 349.16 (1) (a) and (2) in connection with the thawing of frozen highways. Any
13person operating a motor vehicle as authorized under this subsection shall, to the
14extent practicable, deliver propane or heating oil at times of the day when the
15highways used are the least vulnerable.
SB475,56 16Section 56. Initial applicability.
SB475,26,1917 (1) Settlements. The treatment of section 196.026 of the statutes first applies
18to dockets, as defined in section 196.026 (2) of the statutes, that are first opened on
19the effective date of this subsection.
SB475,26,2020 (End)
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